Commentary on Provisions Part 10: Electoral Commission
190.This Part contains provisions adding or adjusting requirements on the Electoral Commission. The requirements are in relation to education and reporting on spoilt ballot papers and to require the Commission to provide 5-year plans setting out its aims and objectives and requirements for resources in respect of its Scottish devolved functions. Currently, the Commission submits its 5-year plan to the Speaker’s Committee (which covers its functions for other UK elections) at the start of the first sitting of the UK Parliament following a general election. The SPCB is sent a copy and can make recommendations. This Part changes that in that it would require the Commission to prepare a separate plan for Scottish elections and for the timing of these plans to correlate with Scottish Parliament general election cycles, giving the SPCB better oversight in terms of the Commission’s strategic and financial priorities.