Electoral Reform Consultation Analysis

8. Appendix A: Quantitative Analysis

The Electoral Reform consultation included 30 closed questions which asked respondents for their views on a range of proposals. Of these, 21 were straightforward with Yes and No answer options to establish levels of support for a proposal. Answer options for the remaining nine questions varied depending on the question.

This appendix summarises the responses to these questions and is in two parts. Firstly we provide a brief overview of the results of the closed questions, followed by a series of tables which detail the results of each question.

Overview

Total sample

The consultation received 517 valid responses – 488 (94%) from individuals and 29 (6%) from organisations. However, not all respondents answered each question. To allow a fair comparison, the overview below presents results based on those answering each question.

Of the 21 Yes/No questions, the five proposals with the highest support among those answering were:

• 90% - Q10: Currently ballot papers show either the candidate's home address or council area. Do you think that the ballot paper should also show the ward in which the candidate lives, if they request it?
• 89% - Q17: Do you agree that the offence of "undue influence" should be made easier to understand and enforce?
• 86% - Q37: Do you think that the Electoral Commission should be able to provide a code of practice on third party expenditure in Scottish devolved elections?
• 84% - Q33: Do you think that the language clarifying the definition of notional spending adopted in the UK Elections Act 2022 should also apply to Scottish devolved elections?

78% - Q7: Do you think that the right for candidates to send a free mailing should be limited to one free mailing to each household, rather than to each voter?

The five proposals with the lowest support among those answering was:

• 38% - Q6: Do you think that the option of sending a freepost letter or leaflet should be extended to candidates at Scottish Local Government elections?
• 32% - Q30: Do you think that the Convener of the Electoral Management Board should be given the power to postpone national Local Government elections in consultation with the Electoral Commission and the Scottish Government?
• 22% - Q23: Should voting rights in Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections be extended to all people seeking asylum in Scotland?
• 22% - Q26: Do you think that the maximum period by which the Presiding Officer can propose the postponement of a Scottish Parliament election should be extended beyond 1 month?
• 20% - Q21: Should voting rights in Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections be extended to some or all persons detained on mental health grounds related to criminal justice?

For the remaining nine questions, respondents were typically in favour of no change to the current process or legislation:

• Over three quarters (77%) of those answering Q1 and Q2 felt that 16- and 17- year olds and foreign nationals with limited right to remain should not be able to stand in either Scottish Parliament or Local Government elections.
• In Q13, 57% felt there should be no change to the current legal requirement for a specific Tactile Voting Device, and in Q14, 76% felt there should be no change to the number of times one companion can support voters in casting their votes.
• Regarding scheduling, 57% stated that the law should not allow a Local Government by-election to be postponed (Q31).
• 39% at Q41 felt the process for approving boundary changes should remain the same. Of those who selected one of the three options presented in the paper, 58% supported Option 3, to move to 'automaticity'.

One area where respondents were likely to agree on a need for change was to tighten restrictions on campaigning:

• At Q34, 82% of those answering agreed that the £10,000 registration threshold should apply to devolved elections across the UK.
• Two thirds (66%) indicated at Q35 that the spending limit for overseas-based third parties that are ineligible to register with the Electoral Commission should be reduced to £700.
• Three quarters (75%) felt the maximum fine the Electoral Commission should be able to impose for breaches of electoral law in Scottish elections should rise to £500,000 at Q38.

Organisations

Below we summarise the results of the closed questions among the 29 organisations who responded to the consultation, again based on the organisations answering each question.

We have not provided a separate summary for individuals. Because they make up the vast majority of the total sample, their results would be similar to the above overview. However, the results for individuals as a stand-alone group are provided later in the data tables.

The number of organisations answering each of the 21 Yes/No questions ranged from three to 12, depending on their areas of interest. Organisations were typically more positive about the proposals. Among those answering each question:

• Nine proposals were supported by all organisations who expressed a view – Q6, Q10, Q18, Q21, Q25, Q27, Q37, Q39 and Q46.
• A further six were supported by at least three quarters – Q4, Q9, Q15, Q17, Q23, Q33.
• All but two proposals were supported by at least half the organisations who answered. The two exceptions were:
• Q36 (Do you think that an order-making power for Scottish Ministers should be introduced which allows them to add, change, or remove categories of third-party campaigners?) – only one of three organisations who answered said Yes.
• Q43 (Should the Scottish Parliament take a greater role in oversight of the Electoral Commission's devolved activities? For example, the Electoral Commission's devolved activities, including their spending plans, being scrutinised by a Scottish Parliamentary Committee) – only one of five organisations who answered said Yes.

Organisations were also broadly in favour of the other nine proposals (Q1, Q2, Q13, Q14, Q31, Q41, Q34, Q35, Q38), each of which were answered by between two and 13 organisations:

• 67% of the organisations who answered Q1 felt that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to stand in both Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections, as did 88% of those answering Q2 about foreign nationals with limited right to remain.
• 69% in Q13 and 42% in Q14 provided their own other suggestions for, respectively, replacing the requirement for a specific Tactile Voting Device and changing the number of times one companion can support voters in casting their votes.
• Regarding allowing a Local Government by-election to be postponed (Q31), 38% favoured this decision being made by the Returning Officer, 38% suggested another official and 13% felt it should be the Convener of the EMB.
• 13% of the organisations who answered Q41 felt there should be no change to the process for approving boundary changes, while 75% supported Option 3 and 13% Option 2.
• There was also support for tightening campaigning regulations. 75% agreed at Q34 that the £10,000 registration threshold should apply to devolved elections across the UK; both the organisations who answered Q35 agreed that the spending limit for overseas-based third parties that are ineligible to register with the Electoral Commission should be reduced to £700; and half (50%) felt the maximum fine the Electoral Commission should be able to impose for breaches of electoral law in Scottish elections should rise to £500,000 at Q38.

Quantitative Summary

The following tables outline the results for each of the 30 closed questions in the consultation.

Please note that the row percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding.

For each question the tables show:

• The number of respondents from the total sample of 517 respondents who selected each response, and the corresponding percentage.
• The number and percentage response among those who answered each question, broken down by:
• Individual and organisation responses.
• By type of organisation.

Candidates

Question 1: Do you think that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to stand for election in:

	n=	Both Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections	Scottish Parliament elections only	Local Government elections only	Neither	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	89	1	25	376	26
All respondents (%)	517	17	0	5	73	5
All answering (%)	491	18	0	5	77	-
- Individuals	485	18	0	5	77	-
- Organisations	6	67	0	0	33	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	2	50	0	0	50	-
- Equalities organisations	2	100	0	0	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	0	0	50	-
- Other	0	-	-	-	-	-

Question 2: Do you think that foreign nationals resident in Scotland with limited rights to remain in the UK should be able to stand for election in:

	n=	Both Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections	Scottish Parliament elections only	Local Government elections only	Neither	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	86	0	25	380	26
All respondents (%)	517	17	0	5	74	5
All answering (%)	491	18	0	5	77	-
- Individuals	483	16	0	5	78	-
- Organisations	8	88	0	0	13	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	2	50	0	0	50	-
- Equalities organisations	5	100	0	0	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	0	0	-
- Other	0	-	-	-	-	-

Question 4: Do you think that anyone found guilty of an offence involving the harassment or intimidation of politicians, candidates or campaigners should be subject to an additional sanction of losing the right to stand for election for 5 years?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	375	113	29
All respondents (%)	517	73	22	6
All answering (%)	488	77	23	-
- Individuals	479	77	23	-
- Organisations	9	89	11	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	4	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	2	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q6: Do you think that the option of sending a freepost letter or leaflet should be extended to candidates at Scottish Local Government elections?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	186	299	32
All respondents (%)	517	36	58	6
All answering (%)	485	38	62	-
- Individuals	475	37	63	-
- Organisations	10	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	4	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	3	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q7: Do you think that the right for candidates to send a free mailing should be limited to one free mailing to each household, rather than to each voter?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	377	105	35
All respondents (%)	517	73	20	7
All answering (%)	482	78	22	-
- Individuals	472	78	22	-
- Organisations	10	70	30	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	4	75	25	-
- Equalities organisations	3	67	33	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q9: Should candidates who are acting as their own agents be able to use a correspondence address for communications?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	360	120	37
All respondents (%)	517	70	23	7
All answering (%)	480	75	25	-
- Individuals	470	75	25	-
- Organisations	10	90	10	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	7	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	1	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	0	100	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q10: Currently ballot papers show either the candidate's home address or council area. Do you think that the ballot paper should also show the ward in which the candidate lives, if they request it?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	439	48	30
All respondents (%)	517	85	9	6
- All answering (%)	487	90	10	-
- Individuals	475	90	10	-
- Organisations	12	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	7	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	2	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	-
- Other	2	100	0	-

Voting

Q13: The Scottish Government intends to amend the rule requiring only a specific form of Tactile Voting Device to be provided in polling stations, to allow more flexibility and ensure the accessibility support offered can be adapted to take account of future innovations. It also intends to place a duty on the Electoral Commission to provide guidance that includes minimum standards. Which of the following options would you prefer:

	n=	Replaced by a general requirement on Returning Officers to provide appropriate support	Replaced with a requirement to provide a non-specific form of tactile support	No change to current legislation	Other	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	135	38	258	24	62
All respondents (%)	517	26	7	50	5	12
All answering (%)	455	30	8	57	5	-
- Individuals	442	30	9	58	3	-
- Organisations	13	23	0	8	69	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	8	38	0	0	63	-
- Equalities organisations	3	0	0	0	100	-
- Political party / candidate	1	0	0	100	0	-
- Other	1	0	0	0	100	-

Q14: Should the limit to the number of times one companion can support voters in casting their votes:

	n=	Remain at two people per election	Rise to five people per election	Be changed to another number	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	357	68	47	45
All respondents (%)	517	69	13	9	9
All answering (%)	472	76	14	10	-
- Individuals	460	77	14	9	-
- Organisations	12	25	33	42	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	6	33	17	50	-
- Equalities organisations	3	0	67	33	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	0	-
- Other	2	0	50	50	-

Q15: Should there be an option in the future to request a digital poll card instead of a paper poll card for Scottish elections?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	269	213	35
All respondents (%)	517	52	41	7
All answering (%)	482	56	44	-
- Individuals	473	55	45	-
- Organisations	9	89	11	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	3	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	4	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	0	100	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q17: Do you agree that the offence of "undue influence" should be made easier to understand and enforce?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	427	51	39
All respondents (%)	517	83	10	8
All answering (%)	478	89	11	-
- Individuals	466	89	11	-
- Organisations	12	92	8	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	6	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	3	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q18: Do you think that we should extend the right to emergency proxies to the companions of anyone who has to attend an unexpected medical appointment or treatment which would prevent them from voting at their normal voting place?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	295	185	37
All respondents (%)	517	57	36	7
All answering (%)	480	61	39	-
- Individuals	469	61	39	-
- Organisations	11	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	7	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	1	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q21: Should voting rights in Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections be extended to some or all persons detained on mental health grounds related to criminal justice?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	93	383	41
All respondents (%)	517	18	74	8
All answering (%)	476	20	80	-
- Individuals	470	19	81	-
- Organisations	6	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	2	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	2	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q23: Should voting rights in Scottish Parliament and Local Government elections be extended to all people seeking asylum in Scotland?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	106	376	35
All respondents (%)	517	21	73	7
All answering (%)	482	22	78	-
- Individuals	474	21	79	-
- Organisations	8	75	25	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	2	0	100	-
- Equalities organisations	5	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	-
- Other	0	-	-	-

Q25: Should there be a presumption against a Scottish devolved election being held on the same day as a UK Parliament election (for example, a UK Parliament by-election on the same day as a national Scottish Parliament election)?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	244	237	36
All respondents (%)	517	47	46	7
All answering (%)	481	51	49	-
- Individuals	469	49	51	-
- Organisations	12	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	6	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	3	100	0	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Scheduling of elections

Q26: Do you think that the maximum period by which the Presiding Officer can propose the postponement of a Scottish Parliament election should be extended beyond 1 month?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	102	364	51
All respondents (%)	517	20	70	10
All answering (%)	466	22	78	-
- Individuals	460	21	79	-
- Organisations	6	67	33	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	3	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	0	100	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q27: Do you think that the date of dissolution of the Scottish Parliament in the run up to a general election should be changed to the day before the election, allowing MSPs to continue to hold office in case of emergency?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	222	242	53
All respondents (%)	517	43	47	10
All answering (%)	464	48	52	-
- Individuals	458	47	53	-
- Organisations	6	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	3	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q28: Do you think that the Presiding Officer should have the power to change the date of a Scottish Parliament by-election, if it is no longer possible to hold the election on the originally selected date?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	243	223	51
All respondents (%)	517	47	43	10
All answering (%)	466	52	48	-
- Individuals	459	52	48	-
- Organisations	7	57	43	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	5	60	40	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	1	0	100	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q30: Do you think that the Convener of the Electoral Management Board should be given the power to postpone national Local Government elections in consultation with the Electoral Commission and the Scottish Government?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	148	308	61
All respondents (%)	517	29	60	12
All answering (%)	456	32	68	-
- Individuals	447	32	68	-
- Organisations	9	56	44	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	6	50	50	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q31: Should the law allow a Local Government by-election to be postponed, and if yes, who should make the decision to postpone?

	n=	No	Yes, Returning Officer	Yes, Convener of the Electoral Management Board	Yes, other	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	261	76	99	18	63
All respondents (%)	517	50	15	19	3	12
All answering (%)	454	57	17	22	4	-
- Individuals	446	58	16	22	3	-
- Organisations	8	13	38	13	38	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	6	0	50	0	50	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	0	50	0	-
- Other	0	-	-	-	-	-

Campaigning

Q33: Do you think that the language clarifying the definition of notional spending adopted in the UK Elections Act 2022 should also apply to Scottish devolved elections?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	375	74	68
All respondents (%)	517	73	14	13
All answering (%)	449	84	16	-
- Individuals	445	84	16	-
- Organisations	4	75	25	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q34: Do you think that third party campaigners should have to register with the Electoral Commission if they spend more than £10,000 across the whole of the UK, even if they spend less than £10,000 in Scotland?

	n=	The £10,000 registration threshold should apply to devolved elections across the UK	The £10,000 registration threshold should apply to Scottish devolved elections only	I have another view on the registration threshold	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	375	58	25	59
All respondents (%)	517	73	11	5	11
All answering (%)	458	82	13	5	-
- Individuals	454	82	13	6	-
- Organisations	4	75	25	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	0	-

Q35: Do you think that the spending limit should be reduced to £700 for overseas third parties that are ineligible to register with the Electoral Commission?

	n=	The spending limit should be reduced to £700	The spending limit should remain the same (£10,000)	I have another view on the spending limit	No answer
All respondents (n=)	436[4]	248	82	44	62
All respondents (%)	436	57	19	10	14
All answering (%)	374	66	22	12	-
- Individuals	372	66	22	12	-
- Organisations	2	100	0	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	0	-	-	-	-
- Other	1	100	0	0	-

Q36: Do you think that an order-making power for Scottish Ministers should be introduced which allows them to add, change, or remove categories of third-party campaigners? A recommendation by the Electoral Commission would be required before a category of third-party campaigners could be changed or removed.

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	183	251	83
All respondents (%)	517	35	49	16
All answering (%)	434	42	58	-
- Individuals	431	42	58	-
- Organisations	3	33	67	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	0	100	-
- Other	0	-	-	-

Q37: Do you think that the Electoral Commission should be able to provide a code of practice on third party expenditure in Scottish devolved elections?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	390	62	65
All respondents (%)	517	75	12	13
All answering (%)	452	86	14	-
- Individuals	448	86	14	-
- Organisations	4	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Q38: Do you think the maximum fine the Electoral Commission should be able to impose for breaches of electoral law in Scottish elections should:

	n=	Rise to £500,000, so it is in line with the maximum fine for referendums	Be set at another amount (please specify the amount below)	Remain unchanged at £10,000	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	343	35	78	61
All respondents (%)	517	66	7	15	12
All answering (%)	456	75	8	17	-
- Individuals	452	75	8	17	-
- Organisations	4	50	0	50	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	0	0	100	-
- Other	1	100	0	0	-

Q39: Do you think that the Scottish Government should revoke its own regulations for digital imprints and rely on the provisions of the Elections Act 2022?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	276	152	89
All respondents (%)	517	53	29	17
All answering (%)	428	64	36	-
- Individuals	424	64	36	-
- Organisations	4	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	1	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-

Administration and Governance

Q41: Do you think the process for approving boundary changes should be changed, and which of the options set out above would you prefer?

	n=	No change	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3	Other option	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	175	25	83	152	17	65
All respondents (%)	517	34	5	16	29	3	13
All answering (%)	452	39	6	18	34	4	-
- Individuals	444	39	6	18	33	4	-
- Organisations	8	13	0	13	75	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	5	0	0	0	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	0	50	0	0	-
- Other	1	0	0	0	100	0	-

Q43: Should the Scottish Parliament take a greater role in oversight of the Electoral Commission's devolved activities? For example, the Electoral Commission's devolved activities, including their spending plans, being scrutinised by a Scottish Parliamentary Committee.

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	182	270	65
All respondents (%)	517	35	52	13
All answering (%)	452	40	60	-
- Individuals	447	40	60	-
- Organisations	5	20	80	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	2	0	100	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	2	50	50	-
- Other	1	0	100	-

Q46: Should a Deputy Convener post be established, with power to exercise the functions of the Convener of the EMB if they are unable to act?

	n=	Yes	No	No answer
All respondents (n=)	517	225	206	86
All respondents (%)	517	44	40	17
All answering (%)	431	52	48	-
- Individuals	422	51	49	-
- Organisations	9	100	0	-
- Public bodies and electoral admin.	7	100	0	-
- Equalities organisations	0	-	-	-
- Political party / candidate	1	100	0	-
- Other	1	100	0	-