International MPs to observe elections

A group of MPs from Canada, India, Pakistan and the Republic of Seychelles is to observe the UK’s general election in Exeter, spending 4 to 8 May in the constituency.

They will observe Election Day procedures – from the opening of polling stations throughout the voting, to their closing, and the counting of ballots – and will meet with candidates from all the major parties, returning officer, local officials, community groups and other relevant stakeholders in order to observe the conduct of the election in Exeter and the environment in which it will take place.

The team in Exeter will be part of a larger multilateral Election Assessment Mission (EAM) monitoring the 2015 general election. The Commonwealth parliamentarians making up the mission will observe electoral processes in a sample of six constituencies, and the EAM will be accredited by the Electoral Commission.

Following polling day on 7 May, the mission will produce a preliminary statement outlining its principal findings, followed by a more detailed report which will include specific recommendations for improving electoral processes at future UK elections.

The preliminary findings will be released at a press conference taking place at 4pm on Friday 8 May in the CPA Room, Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament. Journalists who wish to attend or to receive a copy of the statement should email CPA UK’s Communications Manager, julia.beck@parliament.uk for accreditation.

The EAM is organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, following a small-scale observation of the 2010 general election. The 2010 report highlighted a number of areas for improvement at a national level, such as postal voting processes and the responsibility of the ‘head of household’ for registering the entire ‘household’, which have since been the focus of reform by the Electoral Commission.

John Street, Exeter's Returning Officer, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and hope they will be able to observe how Exeter successfully delivers general and local elections."