Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration Communique: 30 October 2025
Published 10 December 2025
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The Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration (the “IMG”) met on 30 October 2025 in hybrid format.
The meeting was chaired by Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, Scottish Government (SG), in St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh. The other attending Ministers were:
From the UK Government (UKG):
- Samantha Dixon MBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (in person)
- Matthew Patrick MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (NIO) (online)
From the Welsh Government (WG):
- Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (in person)
Minister Dey welcomed attendees. He reflected on his experience as Minister responsible for elections in 2021 and the positive collaboration between administrations on elections during the pandemic.
0.1 Government updates
Minister Dey gave an update on the Scottish Government’s activities in relation to elections, highlighting that the Scottish Government had brought forward secondary legislation in September on dual mandates. A Private Members Bill on recall of MSPs was currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament and it was noted that there were difficult questions around how recall can be applied to regional Members. Minister Dey confirmed that the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May 2026 would continue the approach from 2021 of a next day count, a decision set out in Directions by the Convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary Bryant gave an update on the Welsh Government’s activities in relation to elections, highlighting that pilots on automatic registration have now concluded. The Electoral Commission were evaluating the pilots and the Welsh Government was awaiting recommendations in December on future rollout. It was noted that December will be too late for rollout to occur before the 7 May 2026 Senedd election. The aim is to implement changes before the 2027 local authority elections. Cabinet Secretary Bryant also mentioned work being taken forward on awareness raising around the new electoral system for 2026 Senedd election, and work on improving accessibility undertaken in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and other organisations.
Minister Patrick updated on the Northern Ireland Office’s activities in relation to elections, in particular on engagement with the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland and political parties.
Minister Dixon explained that the main focus of the UK Government’s activities in relation to elections concerned a draft Elections Bill, which was expected to be introduced as soon as UK Parliamentary time allows. The Bill will contain areas where legislative consent will be sought and the UK Government wished to continue to work closely with Scottish and Welsh Governments on this.
0.2 Democratic engagement and security
Ministers discussed the topic of political participation in schools and the need to engage with the education sector. Minister Dey and Cabinet Secretary Bryant reflected on concerns raised in some schools about whether explaining the democratic process could be seen as political activity or attract accusations of bias.
Cabinet Secretary Bryant reflected on the presentations on democratic engagement activity made at the June IMG by different groups funded by the Welsh Government’s Democratic Engagement Grant. The Welsh Government had also commissioned research into measuring ‘democratic health’ beyond turnout, and behaviours such as signing petitions and engagement in surveys. Minister Dixon commented that she is keen to discuss with the Electoral Commission their research on voters missing from the electoral register, and reflected on work with the Electoral Commission on votes at 16 in the context of the recently published Curriculum and Assessment review in England.
Ministers agreed on the need to ensure security around elections and to promote civil discourse. They reflected on examples in all Parliaments of members being targeted, and of the impact and repercussions of inflammatory language on social media by politicians and others. Concerns were also raised in relation to abuse suffered by councillors and council candidates and the challenges faced. Ministers agreed on the need to ensure messaging addressed concerns without deterring people from seeking to engage in the democratic process, e.g. by standing for election.
0.3 Terms of Reference
The IMG terms of reference from 2021 were considered by Ministers to still be relevant and were re-adopted.
0.4 Conclusion
Minister Dey thanked those present and closed the meeting.
The next meeting will be chaired by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will be arranged in due course.