Guidance

Elections Act New Burdens funding methodology

These papers outline the methodology taken to calculate the value of the New Burdens funding to be paid to local authorities to implement the Elections Act.

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Published: 19 December 2022
• Last updated: 8 December 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Elections Act New Burdens funding methodology: voter identification and accessibility

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New Burdens Funding Allocations 22/23 and 23/24: voter ID, accessibility, training & contact centre costs (England and Wales)

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New Burdens Funding Allocations 22/23 and 23/24: voter ID, accessibility, training & contact centre costs (Scotland and Northern Ireland)

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Elections Act New Burdens funding methodology: overseas electors, postal and proxy voting revisions, online absent vote applications and EU citizens’ voting and candidacy rights

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Details

Under the new burdens doctrine, any policy or initiative which increases the cost of providing local authority services is classed a new burden and the government department introducing the policy must meet this cost. The introduction the Voter Identification Regulations and the Assistance with Disabilities (Amendment) Regulations, as part of the Elections Act 2022, creates new burdens, as the policies add additional responsibilities to local authorities (LAs) when delivering elections and electoral registration activities. This paper sets out the modelling approach undertaken to estimate these costs and allocate funding to LAs to support the delivery of elections and electoral registration activities.

Published 19 December 2022
Last updated 8 December 2023 + show all updates

1. 8 December 2023

   Added Elections Act New Burdens funding methodology: overseas electors, postal and proxy voting revisions, online absent vote applications and EU citizens’ voting and candidacy rights.

2. 19 December 2022

   First published.