Electoral Reform Society

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) is an independent United Kingdom advocacy organisation focused on improving the way representative democracy works. Its central constitutional objective is to replace first-past-the-post voting with proportional representation, particularly through the single transferable vote (STV). It also supports an elected second chamber, wider voter choice, stronger public participation, and reforms intended to make elections more accessible, accountable and representative. The organisation was established in January 1884 as the Proportional Representation Society by politician and polymath John Lubbock. Its early supporters included members of both the Conservative and Liberal parties, as well as figures such as Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and C. P. Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian. The society initially sought to have proportional representation included in the major electoral legislation of the mid-1880s, but its lobbying campaign did not achieve that immediate objective. It nevertheless became an enduring centre of expertise and advocacy for proportional voting. The society's historical work extended beyond Westminster. In cooperation with related organisations, it helped explain and promote STV in Ireland, where the system was used in local elections and later became an important part of the electoral arrangements of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. During the post-war period, ERS figures, particularly Enid Lakeman, defended the Irish STV system during unsuccessful attempts in 1959 and 1968 to restore first-past-the-post. STV was introduced for Northern Irish local elections and the new Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973, and the society contributed to public education about the system. Interest in electoral reform in Great Britain increased after the February 1974 general election. The ERS subsequently became a more prominent commentator on electoral systems, representation, voter registration, public participation and the operation of democratic institutions. In 1983 it received consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, reflecting its international standing as a long-running electoral-reform organisation. In the twenty-first century, the society has combined long-term constitutional campaigning with analysis of specific elections and democratic processes. It supported the introduction of STV for Scottish local elections and helped lead the Vote for a Change campaign for a referendum on the voting system after the parliamentary expenses scandal. It was also a founding member of the Votes at 16 Coalition. The ERS was a principal funder of the unsuccessful YES! To Fairer Votes campaign during the 2011 referendum on the Alternative Vote; its then chief executive, Katie Ghose, chaired that campaign. The organisation has frequently criticised election administration and the design of public ballots. It warned in 2012 that the first elections for police and crime commissioners risked exceptionally low participation, and after turnout reached only 15.1 percent it described the government's handling of the process as seriously flawed. It also campaigned for changes to the implementation of individual electoral registration, warning that poorly designed arrangements could remove millions of people from electoral registers and disproportionately affect younger, poorer and some minority voters. The society reported on democratic accountability in the European Union in 2014 and issued a strongly critical assessment of the 2016 EU referendum, calling for better safeguards against misleading claims and clearer standards for broadcasters and official referendum information. More recently, ERS research has addressed representation within political parties and Parliament, including gender imbalances in parliamentary seat succession. In 2020 it joined Labour for a New Democracy, a coalition seeking to build support for proportional representation within the Labour movement. Although an initial 2021 Labour conference motion failed, support from constituency delegates and several trade unions subsequently grew, and a later 2022 conference vote backed a commitment to include proportional representation in the party's manifesto. The society remains an active, non-party campaign organisation rather than an electoral party or commercial consumer brand.

The Electoral Reform Society began in January 1884 as the Proportional Representation Society. It was founded by John Lubbock, who wanted electoral institutions to translate votes into representative bodies more accurately. Within its first year, the organisation had attracted 184 Members of Parliament, drawn in roughly equal numbers from the Conservative and Liberal parties. Early supporters also included Charles Dodgson, C. P. Scott and Thomas Hare, whose work was associated with the development of the single transferable vote. The society's first major objective was to secure proportional representation in the Representation of the People Act 1884 and the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Despite sustained lobbying, Parliament did not adopt its proposal. The organisation nevertheless developed a durable programme centred on proportional representation, broader voter choice, the inclusion of substantial minorities and greater independence for elected representatives. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the society promoted STV in public and institutional elections. Working with the Proportional Representation Society of Ireland, it helped with voter education before the Irish local elections of 1920, the first Irish local elections to use STV. The system was also adopted in a range of religious, educational and professional organisations. These experiences gave the society practical expertise in explaining preferential voting and administering elections beyond the Westminster model. After the Second World War, the organisation faced financial difficulty and a less favourable public climate. Its Irish campaign work remained important. When referendums were held in 1959 and 1968 on proposals to return Ireland to first-past-the-post, the society, under Enid Lakeman's leadership, campaigned successfully to retain STV. In 1973 STV was introduced for Northern Irish local elections and for the newly established Northern Ireland Assembly. Government voter-education efforts drew on the society's knowledge of the system. The February 1974 general election renewed interest in proportional representation in Britain. From that point the society gained greater public visibility and expanded its role as a commentator on electoral administration and democratic reform. In 1983 it obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It later supported successful campaigns for STV in Scottish local elections and became involved in initiatives concerning voting age, electoral registration, public participation and the accountability of elected institutions. Following the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, the society supported the Vote for a Change campaign, which called for a referendum on the voting system. It was also a founding member of the Votes at 16 Coalition. In the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum it was a principal funder of YES! To Fairer Votes, chaired by its chief executive Katie Ghose. The campaign did not secure a Yes result. The ERS subsequently focused on election quality as well as electoral-system choice. It criticised the government's preparation for the 2012 police and crime commissioner elections, accurately warning that participation could be exceptionally low. It also pressed for amendments to individual electoral registration in order to reduce the risk that eligible voters, particularly disadvantaged groups, would disappear from electoral registers. Reports on the European Union and the 2016 referendum broadened its work into questions of democratic accountability, campaign information and broadcasting standards. In 2020 the organisation joined Labour for a New Democracy, seeking support for proportional representation inside the Labour Party. A 2021 conference motion failed after opposition from affiliated trade unions, but union backing subsequently expanded. In 2022 Labour conference delegates voted in favour of adopting proportional representation, although the vote did not bind the party leadership. The society continues to operate as a UK-based, non-party advocacy organisation campaigning for a representative democracy suited to contemporary political conditions.

• 2020

  Joins Labour for a New Democracy

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  ERS joined a coalition campaigning for Labour Party support for proportional representation.

• 2018

  Electoral Reform Services sold to Civica

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society's associated ballot-services company was sold to Civica and became Civica Election Services.

• 2011

  Campaigns in Alternative Vote referendum

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  ERS principal funding supported the unsuccessful YES! To Fairer Votes campaign.

• 1983

  Receives UN consultative status

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was recognised as a non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council.

• 1973

  STV introduced in Northern Ireland elections

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society contributed expertise to government education programmes accompanying the adoption of STV.

• 1920

  STV voter education in Ireland

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society assisted public education before Ireland's first local elections conducted using STV.

• 1884

  Proportional Representation Society founded

  [1]Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org

  John Lubbock founded the organisation in January as a campaign for proportional representation.

An independent, non-party and historically long-established UK campaign organisation advocating proportional representation, especially the single transferable vote, alongside broader improvements to democratic participation and accountability.

• Campaigning · 1884

  Single transferable vote advocacy

  The society's principal policy programme promotes STV as a proportional voting method that allows voters to rank candidates and helps allocate seats in proportion to support. ERS presents it as an alternative to first-past-the-post and plurality-at-large systems.

• Research

  Electoral research and briefings

  ERS publishes analysis of elections, voter participation, representation, registration, democratic accountability and the operation of electoral institutions. Its work is intended for the public, policymakers, journalists and campaigners.

• Public education

  Democracy education

  The organisation provides explanations and campaign material about voting systems and democratic reform. Historically, related society organisations helped educate voters about STV before elections using preferential voting.

• 2020Labour for a New Democracy

  United Kingdom

  ERS joined Labour campaigners, pressure groups and MPs to build support for proportional representation within the Labour Party.

  Outcome. A 2022 Labour conference vote backed proportional representation, though the decision was not binding on the party leadership.

  Source
• 2011YES! To Fairer Votes

  United Kingdom

  ERS was a principal funder of the campaign supporting a Yes vote in the referendum on replacing first-past-the-post with the Alternative Vote for UK parliamentary elections.

  Outcome. The referendum proposal was defeated.

  Source
• 2011Vote for a Change

  United Kingdom

  The society helped lead calls for a referendum on the voting system following the parliamentary expenses scandal.

  Outcome. A referendum was held in 2011, but the Alternative Vote proposal failed.

  Source
• Votes at 16 Coalition

  United Kingdom

  The society was a founding member of a coalition campaigning to lower the voting age to 16.

  Source

• 2016

  Review of the EU referendum processStrategy

  Background

  ERS assessed the referendum campaign and concluded that voters faced significant problems involving information quality and democratic safeguards.

  Action taken

  It called for an official body to challenge misleading claims and for Ofcom to clarify broadcasters' responsibilities during referendums.

  Source

• 2014

  Recommendations on European Union democratic accountabilityStrategy

  Background

  The society identified weaknesses in public accountability and representation within the European Union.

  Action taken

  It recommended stronger parliamentary scrutiny of EU legislation, greater voter influence over individual candidates and broader internal party viewpoints on Europe.

  Source

• 2012

  Public intervention over police and crime commissioner electionsStrategy

  Background

  ERS argued that the government's election arrangements and communications strategy risked producing extremely low turnout.

  Action taken

  It forecast turnout, urged changes to the process and mobilised attention among candidates and voters.

  Aftermath

  National turnout was 15.1 percent, below the society's forecast, prompting further criticism of the government's handling.

  Source

1. 1Electoral Reform Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Electoral Reform Society official websiteelectoral-reform.org.uk