Question
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received on the use of electronic methods of counting votes cast in electoral processes; what assessment she has made of such methods; and if she will make a statement.
Answer
In October 2005 the DCA issued a prospectus calling for applications to conduct pilots at the May 2005 elections. Eight local authorities applied to electronically count votes cast in their elections. Lord Falconer approved four applications, which were announced by Written Ministerial Statement to this House on 14 February 2006 with associated explanatory material placed in the House Library.These applications were approved as they are expected to provide additional learning to pilots of electronic counting conducted in previous years and its use at elections for the Greater London assembly and London Members of the European Parliament in 2004. It is the role of the Electoral Commission to evaluate these pilots and we are working closely with the Commission to ensure that the evaluation process provides useful learning. The Commission's evaluations of previous pilots using e-counting are available on its website and I understand their report on this May's pilots will be due in August 2006.