Podcasts about electoral commission

In 1876, as America turns 100, Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call, Philadelphia dazzles millions at the Centennial Exposition, and the Wild West forges legends from Custer's Last Stand, Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok. But the year's greatest drama unfolds at the ballot box when Democrat Samuel Tilden wins the popular vote while disputed returns leave Republican Rutherford B. Hayes one electoral vote from the presidency. With rival electors, accusations of fraud, racial violence, and a constitutional crisis threatening the nation, Congress creates an unprecedented Electoral Commission to decide who will become president and whether America's fragile postwar republic can survive. GLENN'S SPONSORS: American Financing: American Financing can show you how to put your hard-earned equity to work and get you out of debt. Dial ⁠800-906-2440⁠, or visit ⁠https://www.americanfinancing.net⁠. Mercury One: Learn about the REAL history of America. Become a Founding Member of the Sacred Honor Society at the American Journey Experience for $17.76 TODAY! Chapter: When it comes to Medicare, Chapter puts you first. Dial #250 and say the key word "Chapter". Real Estate Agents I Trust: When you're buying or selling a home, you need a real estate agent you can trust. Visit https://realestateagentsitrust.com/ to find the top-selling real estate agents in your area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has resumed counting votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections after an earlier suspension. The suspension followed reports of violence against election officials and the alleged theft of ballot papers. The commission says the security threat has now been contained, but has not confirmed whether the alleged stolen ballots could affect the final results. The first results are expected later today, with the final outcome due to be announced on Monday. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to University of Pretoria Governance and Election expert Tendai Mbanje joins us

Concerns have been raised about the number of voters who may have been moved to the dormant electoral roll without their knowledge. The Electoral Commission has since revealed about 115,000 people are on the dormant roll, a number Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne has conceded is not good enough. He spoke to John Campbell.

"ELECTION WEDNESDAYS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IEC". With just three days remaining before the proclamation of the election date, the Electoral Commission calls on all eligible voters to use this time to register to vote or update their voter registration details ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections. On Friday, 7 August 2026, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will proclaim the election date. At midnight on the day of the proclamation, the voters' roll will close, marking the beginning of the next phase of the electoral programme. The election timetable, which outlines key electoral processes such as the certification of the voters' roll, opening of candidate nominations, the launch of the code of conduct and other statutory activities, will then come into effect. South Africans who have not yet registered to vote, or who need to update their registration details, are encouraged to do so through the online Voter Registration Portal at registertovote.elections.org.za. We spoke to IEC Manager: Electoral Matters, Kgosietsile Tshoke

The Electoral Commission is preparing to turn away voters who aren't enrolled. Electoral law changes mean people must enrol to vote by October 25th or miss out. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne says just under 90% of people are enrolled. He says 18 to 24-year-olds are enrolled at lower rates. Le Quesne told Mike Hosking he wants to see these rates increase. He says people should be talking to the youngsters in their lives, ensuring those 18 or over are enrolled. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend marks the final voting station-based registration opportunity for South African voters. This weekend, The Electoral Commission calls on all eligible South Africans who have not yet registered as voters, those who are registered but have not yet inspected their address details for completeness or those who have moved residence since they last registered, to use this final opportunity to secure their place on the voters' roll. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to IEC's Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Electoral Matters, Masego Sheburi

South Africa's Electoral Commission is making a final push for eligible citizens to register for the upcoming local government elections. This weekend marks the absolute last chance for in-person voter registration before the election date is officially proclaimed. Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Sy Mamabolo warns that the voters' roll will close immediately upon proclamation, locking out anyone unregistered.

"ELECTION WEDNESDAYS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IEC". The Electoral Commission is calling on all South Africans who are eligible to vote to make use of the final voter registration weekend, taking place on 1–2 August, to register to vote or update their registration details ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections. While the voter registration weekend provides an important opportunity for in-person registration and updates, eligible voters will still be able to register and update their details through the Commission's online voter portal after the weekend. The online portal will remain open until the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) formally proclaims the election date, which is expected in the days following the registration weekend. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to IEC Assistant Manager Civic and Democracy Education, Mmakgabo Ramatlhodi

The Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for public comments on its proposed Code to Counter Disinformation to 29 July 2026. The Commission says the extension is intended to encourage broader public participation because of the code's significant impact on the electoral process. The draft code proposes tougher measures to curb election misinformation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Political parties and candidates who deliberately spread false information, publish misleading election content, or use AI-generated deepfakes during election campaigns could face penalties under the proposed new rules. IEC Chief Electoral Officer is Sy Mamabolo.

The Electoral Commission says it's focussed on getting people enrolled to vote early, after law changes meaning voters will no longer be able to enrol on election day. Electoral Commission Chief Executive Karl Le Quesne spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

"ELECTION WEDNESDAYS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IEC". The Electoral Commission urges political parties and aspiring independent candidates to take advantage of the opportunity to submit their candidate nomination and supporter lists through the Online Candidate Nomination System (OCNS). Early submissions will help avoid the last-minute rush before the system closes in August. Since the OCNS opened in June, more than 20 political parties have actively used the platform. The Commission anticipates closing the system during the third week of August. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to IEC Manager for Electoral Matters, Kgosietsile Tshoke

The changes to the way we vote. Voters will no longer be able to rock up on election day and register to vote thanks to a law change made last year, and Chris Hipkins isn't happy. The Labour Leader says the Electoral Commission isn't doing enough to make sure New Zealanders are enrolled to vote, and he's concerned that people will turn up on Election Day and find that their votes won't be counted because they're not on the electoral roll. In the past, they could see all the flags, think, “Oh, what's that all about?", wander into a voting station, “Oh, I'm not on the... Oh, I'd quite like to vote, I'm not on the roll." “No worries," the nice people at the voting stations would say. “We'll sign you up." So they'd be signed up, they'd be able to vote, and their vote would then be counted as a special vote. At the last election, more than half a million special votes needed to be counted. Not all of these were numpties, of course, who didn't realise that they weren't on the electoral roll, or people who'd been scooped up along with a van full of the halt, the lame, and dispossessed to come along and cast a vote, who were just told, “Look for the pretty colour and tick that box." Some of the people were in hospitals, some were on the unpublished electoral roll, some were living overseas, and just on that, allow me to clamber onto my favourite hobby horse: if you have been living overseas and you have borrowed money from the taxpayer to get your degree and you haven't paid it back, and you don't have a payment plan in place to pay it back, you shouldn't be able to vote. Overseas student loan borrowers owe us $4.5 billion, and only 23% of them are meeting their repayment obligations. If I were King or Queen, I'd be like, “Right, you miserable lot, not one of you gets the right to say how we spend taxpayer dollars until you've paid back the taxpayer dollars you've borrowed, or until you are signed up to a payment plan that ensures you will pay back what you've borrowed. If you're not on a payment plan, get stuffed, your vote doesn't count and you can't cast a vote." So that would be me, I digress, but I will still seethe quietly. The Electoral Commission has estimated that around 55,000 votes could be disallowed under the new law. Around 73,000 could have their electorate votes disallowed but their party votes counted because they were enrolled to vote but they weren't at the address listed on the roll. Labour's justice spokeswoman, Camilla Belich, spoke to Andrew Dickens on Drive last night about her concerns. “Well, we're really worried that people who just want to go along on Election Day and cast their vote will be prevented from doing that. And the Government will say, “Well, maybe they should have done it in advance," but we know that a lot of people don't think about voting until around the election period anyway, and we're worried that this will limit their ability to participate in our democracy, thus ironically affecting the government's mandate to govern. So we think that politicians should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder, and unfortunately the Government is doing the opposite.” So people don't realise they're going to be turning 18 and will need to vote? People don't check whether they're on the electoral roll before the Election? The Commission is about to launch a major awareness campaign. They will be writing to 3.6 million New Zealanders asking them to check their enrolment details are up to date and advising them of the changes that they won't be able to just rock up on Election Day. The only problem is, if your enrolment details aren't up to date, the letter's not going to reach you, is it? It seems to be a bit of a waste of time and money. And is it the Commission's job? I mean, Labour seems to think it is. It's the Commission's job to chase down every last voter in this country and offshore, take them gently by the hand, guide them through the process, and then let them loose in a voting booth. If you can't get your act together, then should your vote even count? If you owe the taxpayer $4.5 billion, should your vote count? I would have thought, and go ahead and call me a miserable old bat and a Tory-loving Fox News ZB, but it's up to you, not the Electoral Commission, to make sure you can vote. Voting is a precious, precious right, and when you've had it for so long, you probably take it for granted, but there are people dying right now for the right to vote. If you don't take it seriously and you don't treasure the right to vote, you shouldn't bloody have it. If you're just going to be bundled into a van with the halt, the lame, and the dispossessed and taken down to put a tick next to the pretty colour, should you be voting? No. Not at all. You can enrol, you can check, you can update your details online at vote.nz. Even the website couldn't be simpler: vote.nz. Or you can call a freephone number and ask for an enrolment form to be sent to you. That should be all anyone needs. Writing to 3.6 million New Zealanders – if your voting details are up to date, you don't need the letter. If your enrolment details aren't up to date, you're not going to get the letter. It seems utterly pointless and futile and hopeless. Vote.nz. If you can't manage to enrol and it's beyond you to check your details are correct, you know what? Stay home. We don't want you voting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is concerned that the Electoral Commission is not doing enough to enrol voters ahead of this year's election following changes to the law made by the current Government, which mean that voters cannot enrol or update their enrolment on election day or during the advanced voting period. This means that if the contact details associated with your enrolment are incorrect, your vote could be discounted. Labour justice spokesperson Camilla Belich told Andrew Dickens their concerns are that the changes will limit people's ability to participate in democracy. "We think that politicians should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder, and unfortunately the Government is doing the opposite," Belich said. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Chris Hipkins thinks the Electoral Commission needs to step up its game getting voters enrolled, particularly with new changes kicking in this election that will prevent people enrolling to vote on the day. Political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

INTRO: "ELECTION WEDNESDAYS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IEC". The Electoral Commission is reinforcing its message on the voter registration process as a final call to eligible citizens ahead of the second voter registration weekend. Following the 2nd and final Weekend Registration on the 1st and 2nd August 2026, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) is expected to gazette the election date, which will result in the closure of the voters' roll. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to the IEC Assistant Manager for Civic and Democracy Education, Mmakgabo Ramatlhodi

The Digital Equity Coalition Aotearoa and Te Hapori Matihiko - a Māori technology initiative - say the Electoral Commission earlier this year shifted its preference to email or text people election information. 

Electoral Commission calls on South Africans to comment on draft electoral code of conduct countering disinformation. The Electoral Commission has published the draft Electoral Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation in the Government Gazette for public comment, marking an important milestone in safeguarding the integrity of electoral processes ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The Electoral Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation seeks to establish clear principles and standards that encourage responsible conduct by all electoral participants and stakeholders. SaIEC Assistant Manager Civic and Democracy Education, Mmakgabo Ramatlhodi

The number of election posters used in the 2024 general election used the same amount of plastic as 1.3 million coffee cups. They had the same carbon impact as return flights from Dublin to New York. That's according to the Electoral Commission's latest report on electoral posters and how people perceive them. Dr Eoin O'Malley, Lecturer in Government and Director of Public Policy at DCU and author of ‘Election Posters in Ireland: practices, attitudes and impacts'

The number of election posters used in the 2024 general election used the same amount of plastic as 1.3 million coffee cups. They had the same carbon impact as return flights from Dublin to New York. That's according to the Electoral Commission's latest report on electoral posters and how people perceive them. Dr Eoin O'Malley, Lecturer in Government and Director of Public Policy at DCU and author of ‘Election Posters in Ireland: practices, attitudes and impacts'

Parliament is currently considering the Representation of the People Bill. As well as lowering the voting age for UK elections to 16, this legislation contains a host of changes in other areas, including voter registration, voter ID, political finance, and the role of the Electoral Commission. Will these changes be sufficient to deliver fair, safe, and secure elections? If not, what more needs to be done? And does safeguarding our elections require changes of culture and behaviour, as well as new legislation?  Speakers: Phoebe Arnold – Policy Lead at Full Fact John Pullinger – Chair of the Electoral Commission Philip Rycroft – former senior civil servant, and author of the 2026 review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics Chair: Professor Alan Renwick – Director of the Constitution Unit Links:Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unitMailing list: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-listBlog: constitution-unit.com

Guest: Sy Mamabolo | Chief Electoral Officer at Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Africa Melane will speak to Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), as the commission reports strong voter registration momentum ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Early Breakfast with Africa Melane is 702’s and CapeTalk’s early morning talk show. Experienced broadcaster Africa Melane brings you the early morning news, sports, business, and interviews politicians and analysts to help make sense of the world. He also enjoys chatting to guests in the lifestyle sphere and the Arts. All the interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen.Thank you for listening to this podcast from Early Breakfast with Africa Melane For more about the show click https://buff.ly/XHry7eQ and find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/XJ10LBUListen live on weekdays between 04:00 and 06:00 (SA Time) to the Early Breakfast with Africa Melane broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3NSubscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetcFollow us on social media:702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Electoral Commission is gearing up for a nationwide voter registration drive this weekend, with more than 23,700 registration stations set to open across South Africa. Over 48,000 trained staff members have been deployed to assist voters who need to register or update their details ahead of the next local government elections. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says the commission is ready to ensure a smooth, efficient and accessible process for all eligible voters. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tree Tech SA's Paul Mooney - big tree safety during rough weather Owner of Federal Wine + Spirits in Boston, Len Rothenberg - did the Scots drink Boston dry? Adelaide University Emeritus Professor of Politics Clem McIntyre - why we need a working electoral commission Adelaide Oval turf manager Pete Foreman - how does the Adelaide Oval make sure the ground is fit for play after torrential rains? Phil Hoffman - Qatar flights to Adelaide return David Koch Breaking at 8 - Anna Hurley, new Panorama Hotel One Nation MLC Carlos Quaremba - council elections to be delayed due to Electoral Commission issues Police Commissioner Grant Stevens See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Michael Hendrikse | WC Provincial Electoral Officer at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) With South Africa marking Youth Month, the IEC is urging young people to take part in the upcoming voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June ahead of the 4th of November local government elections. Wasanga Mehana speaks to Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrikse about boosting youth turnout, electoral readiness, and strengthening democratic participation. Early Breakfast with Africa Melane is 702’s and CapeTalk’s early morning talk show. Experienced broadcaster Africa Melane brings you the early morning news, sports, business, and interviews politicians and analysts to help make sense of the world. He also enjoys chatting to guests in the lifestyle sphere and the Arts. All the interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen.Thank you for listening to this podcast from Early Breakfast with Africa Melane For more about the show click https://buff.ly/XHry7eQ and find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/XJ10LBUListen live on weekdays between 04:00 and 06:00 (SA Time) to the Early Breakfast with Africa Melane broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3NSubscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetcFollow us on social media:702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adelaide University Emeritus Professor of Politics Clem McIntyre joined David & Will to discuss why it is important that the Electoral Commission sorts out their issues following reports that council elections will be delayed by 6 months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we sat down to get voters' verdicts on the prime minister in Makerfield, he suffered yet another massive headache – his Defence Secretary, John Healey, resigned. And a few hours later, two more resignations. How weak is Keir Starmer now? And is this a problem for the safety of the UK?Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman hear from locals voting next week - do they think Andy Burnham is destined for Number 10? What about the other parties' ambitions for the area, and what do they make of all the attention they've been getting lately?Plus – the ladies have an announcement - you'll have to listen through to the end to find out...For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.And if you want to hear more about Ed Conway's Stuff Matters podcast, go to podfollow.com/stuff- matters Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Adelaide City Council elected member Arman Abrahimzadeh joined David & Will to discuss the possibility of council elections being delayed by at least six months by the Electoral Commission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Pure cold rage": Will Nigel Farage regret his intervention over the murder of Henry Nowak?Beth, Ruth and Harriet discuss whether Farage is pandering to the far right, or if he has a point about "two-tier policing" in Britain.And, as Nicola Sturgeon attempts to distance herself from her estranged husband Peter Murrell – Ruth asks if her legacy is now forever tarnished.Nicola Sturgeon has said she was “completely cleared and exonerated” by police and that she had been “misled” and “deceived” by Murrell.For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.We are happy to clarify that initiated Sikh women, like initiated Sikh men, are required to wear a kirpan as part of the religion. Whether a Sikh carries a kirpan depends on their initiation status and not on gender.And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth, and Harriet on YouTube.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Beth has a punchy exclusive interview with Andy Burnham for this extra episode of Electoral Dysfunction.Saying the quiet bit out loud, Beth asks if Burnham is using this as his path to Number 10 Downing Street or whether he would be loyal as an MP and serve in Keir Starmer's cabinet? You might want to watch on YouTube to see his response...She also asks how Burnham's ideas for the country are different to what we already have in government.Plus, what does the current Mayor of Greater Manchester think about Reform and Nigel Farage's chances in a future Mayoral race after the party did so well at the local elections there?And this race to be an MP isn't just about Andy Burnham – whilst Beth is in Makerfield, she's interviewing a number of other candidates too, but Reform and Restore UK's candidates weren't available.For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Is the UK on its way to becoming ungovernable?And what does a £5m gift to Nigel Farage from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne tell us about scrutiny and transparency in British politics?Harriet Harman, Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson discuss in a special live edition of the pod, recorded at the Hay Festival.Plus, Harriet offers advice to Green Party leader Zack Polanski on how to handle his council tax row - inspired by her own experience being chased by the paparazzi.For a full list of candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website. Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

The Electoral Commission is pushing hard to ensure the country's youth shows up at polling stations on the 4th of November. On Wednesday (27/05) it unveiled several innovations in respect of its communications, geared at capturing the hearts and minds of South Africa's younger generation. Its Communication Campaign launch held in Midrand, Johannesburg, saw the announcement of a youth talk show programme, podcast and revamped call centre - to add to the online registration platform. The Electoral Management Body also used the event to urge society as a whole to defend the integrity of the country's electoral democracy. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to political analyst Yolokazi Mfuto

Reality show Married At First Sight UK on Channel 4 is facing serious allegations this week, so Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman discuss whether more should be done to make reality TV safer – and if MPs ought to get involved.Plus, with three by-elections coming up, has Andy Burnham's bid to return to Westminster thrown the constituency of Makerfield into chaos? And why might the North Sea oil reserves become a hot button issue for voters in Aberdeen South?For a full list of candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.Channel 4 was approached for comment.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.And if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth, and Harriet on YouTube.

The government has introduced the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16, change how electoral rules are enforced and – potentially – introduce new restrictions on political donations. But embedding new processes for registering to vote, changing how electoral rules are enforced, and ensuring there is clear information for 16- and 17-year-olds will all take time – and affect the work of the Electoral Commission, local authorities, schools, civil society groups and others in the run-up to the next general election. So, what needs to happen after the Bill gets Royal Assent? How will the Bill change the remit of the Electoral Commission – and is the Commission prepared? What do local authorities need to do to get ready? What information will new voters need? And what needs to change culturally as well as administratively? To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Harriet Andrews, Director of The Politics Project John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission Prof. Alan Renwick, Director of the Constitution Unit at UCL Clare Sim, Head of Member Support at the Association of Electoral Administrators (joining remotely) The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

The government has introduced the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16, change how electoral rules are enforced and – potentially – introduce new restrictions on political donations. But embedding new processes for registering to vote, changing how electoral rules are enforced, and ensuring there is clear information for 16- and 17-year-olds will all take time – and affect the work of the Electoral Commission, local authorities, schools, civil society groups and others in the run-up to the next general election. So, what needs to happen after the Bill gets Royal Assent? How will the Bill change the remit of the Electoral Commission – and is the Commission prepared? What do local authorities need to do to get ready? What information will new voters need? And what needs to change culturally as well as administratively? To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Harriet Andrews, Director of The Politics Project John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission Prof. Alan Renwick, Director of the Constitution Unit at UCL Clare Sim, Head of Member Support at the Association of Electoral Administrators (joining remotely) The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Monday's show, Bryce Edwards from The Democracy Project joined us to discuss The Opportunity Party. He said one of the biggest challenges smaller parties face is the 'wasted vote' trap. Under New Zealand's electoral system, a party must win at least 5% of the party vote to gain list seats in Parliament. That means voters can be reluctant to back smaller parties because, if they miss the threshold, those votes don't translate into representation. The Electoral Commission recommended lowering the threshold to 4% in 2012 to help address the problem. But Ed Hitchcock, the man behind the On the Threshold website, has a very different solution. [picture id="4JOLCP4_Ed_Hitchcock_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Joined by Brian Dawson from An Coimisiún Toghcháin- the Electoral Commission.

If Labour's election losses are as bad as some experts predict, Keir Starmer might need a cabinet reshuffle to try to show some strength of leadership. Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson discuss the risks of that and why it might be counter-productive for the PM. Plus, pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common returns to chat about the Senedd elections in Wales – why has the voting system changed and why do so few voters seem to understand it?For a list of all candidates standing in your area, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.ukAnd if you didn't know, you can also watch Beth, Ruth and Harriet on YouTube.

Despite some encouraging developments, many blind and visually impaired people complain that they are still unable to secretly and independently cast their vote at elections. With UK elections fast approaching, this episode examines the current situation. Ian Hamilton reports on an initiative in Scotland, and also joining us are:-Rachael Andrews, whose action to bring a case to Court resulted in the Judge finding that the existing arrangements were "a parody of the Electoral system".Duncan Johnson from Pakflatt, a company that makes the McGonagle Reader, a device designed to enable secret and independent voting for blind people, and,Jackie Killeen, Director of administration and regulation at The Electoral Commission.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Fern Lulham Production Coordinator: Helen SurteesWebsite image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.'

Sir Keir Starmer says he has "put to bed" the row over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador – but it looks set to rumble on for the PM.Starmer's former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has now been summoned to give evidence to the Commons, as well as Sir Olly Robbins's predecessor at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton.Beth explains why Barton's evidence could end up being "box office", while Ruth and Harriet give their assessment on Starmer's very difficult week.And the team discuss if it might be easier to reveal all the information which came up during vetting.Peter Mandelson denies criminal wrongdoing and has not been charged.Plus – Beth's in Manchester interviewing Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Will he be able to persuade voters in Labour heartlands – and beyond - to jump ship?For a list of all candidates standing in your area, check the Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-informationGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.ukAnd if you didn't know, you can also watch Ruth, Beth and Harriet on YouTube.

The Electoral Commission in Victoria will introduce a “low-sensory” election in this year's state elections. This is intended to make elections more accessible to neurodivergent voters. The Victorian Electoral Commission will launch a pilot in the by-elections in the Nepean electoral district tomorrow, April 21. - Die Wahlkommission in Victoria wird bei den diesjährigen Landtagswahlen eine „Low-Sensory“-Wahl einführen, also eine Wahl mit geringen sensorischen Reizen. Damit sollen die Wahlen für neurodivergente Wählerinnen und Wähler zugänglicher gemacht werden. Die Victorian Electoral Commission wird bei der Ersatzwahl im Wahlbezirk Nepean am morgigen 21. April einen Pilotversuch starten.

Are voters about to hand Nigel Farage his biggest win yet? Reform are polling in second place in Scotland, and while Farage's party might not win in May, could the result change politics in the UK as we know it?This podcast was recorded on Thursday morning before the news that Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting.Beth, Ruth and Harriet dive into what's really driving this moment for Reform and whether it's a protest vote against Scottish independence or something more permanent. And Beth reports back on her trip north of the border with Farage this week, which is part of a series of interviews she is conducting with all the leaders.Plus, pollster Luke Tryl from More in Common is back with a focus group of voters to help us understand what could happen across the board in the May elections and what it means for Labour, the Conservatives, and the future of two-party politics.For a list of all candidates standing in your area, check the Electoral Commission website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-informationGot a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk

With three weeks to polling day, postal voting is underway in local and devolved elections across the UK - but will the process stay clean and how much could deepfakes distort the campaign?In Scotland, an almighty row has erupted between Labour and Reform over an alleged behind-the-scenes alliance to remove the SNP, with both parties branding each other liars.Down in Wales, questions are being raised over whether a party could win the most votes yet fail to form the next administration under the new voting system.Sam hears from the CEO of the Electoral Commission about the threat of deepfakes and a new pilot scheme to detect them.Away from the campaign trail, Anne has been speaking to the new German ambassador to the UK, who has struck up an unlikely friendship with a potential challenger to Keir Starmer.Plus, details of plans being drawn up for a “worst-case scenario” over food shortages if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. You can find all the candidates standing in the local and national elections across the country here.

May 7th will see elections take place across the UK and there's some important deadlines and information for blind and partially sighted voters.RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Liz Williams, RNIB Cymru, and Ella Griffiths-Downing, Electoral Commission, for more details.#RNIBConnectImage shows RNIB Cymru logo. On a white square "RNIB" is at the centre in bold black letters, with smaller "Cymru" underneath. They're underlined by a bold pink line.

The Victorian Electoral Commission will introduce low-sensory voting at this year's state election, in a move to make elections more accessible to neurodivergent voters. - Magpapakilala ang Victorian Electoral Commission ng low-sensory voting sa state election ngayong taon, isang hakbang para gawing mas accessible ang halalan para sa mga botanteng neurodivergent.

Christina Koch is ready to make history. She is one of the four astronauts of Artemis 2 which is set to head around the Moon in the next few days. During her career as a Nasa astronaut, she has spent more than 300 days aboard the International Space Station, and she was part of the first all-woman spacewalk with Jessica Meir. This mission will take her and her crewmates on a 10-day journey, further into space than any humans have ever gone. Joining Krupa Padhy to talk more about Christina and the importance of having women in space, is planetary and space scientist Professor Caroline Smith, Chair of the European Space Agency Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee and also Head of Collections at the Natural History Museum, and Natasha Carr, PhD researcher at the University of Leicester, who is researching planetary sciences and space instrumentation. Millions of voters will head to the polls on Thursday 7 May for the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election. Today a group of organisations, including the Electoral Commission, are calling for the elections to be free from abuse. The Commission's most recent research, following the 2025 local elections, found that 61% of respondents experienced harassment or security threats during the campaign and previous research found that respondents who were women were twice as likely to report serious abuse and those from ethnic minorities were three times as likely. To discuss the impact of this, Krupa is joined by Niki Nixon, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Electoral Commission, and Hannah Perkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Faversham Town Council in Kent. According to the NHS, one in eight known pregnancies end in miscarriage. For some women, they will experience more than one miscarriage, and for those who have more than three, then this is known as 'recurrent miscarriage', which affects around one in 100 women. It is a hugely devastating experience for those going through it, and is one that is often underrepresented on screen. A new BBC drama, Babies, aims to bring this issue in to the light, as it follows a young couple on their journey to parenthood. Siobhán Cullen plays Lisa and she tells Krupa about playing the role. They are joined by Zoe Clark-Coates, CEO of the baby loss charity The Mariposa Trust.The countdown to May's Eurovision song contest in Austria is on. As critics and fans analyse all 35 competing entries, it's Romania's song that is attracting a lot of attention. Choke Me is performed by Alexandra Căpitănescu and is facing criticism from sexual violence campaigners. The song repeats the phrase ‘choke me' around 30 times in three minutes, raising concerns that it glamorises strangulation, a practice linked to brain injury and even death. Alexandra Căpitănescu has defended the track, saying the lyrics refer to the feeling of being overwhelmed by emotion and ‘being suffocated by self-doubt'. Krupa hears from Dr. Catherine White, Medical Director for the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, and Lisa-Jayne Lewis, Broadcaster and Commentator specialising in the Eurovision Song Contest.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Andrea Kidd

The latest study conducted for the Electoral Commission by the Human Sciences Research Council points to a troubling decline in South Africans’ belief in democracy, with the “demand for democracy” falling from 65% in the early 2000s to just 26% today, driven by growing frustration over corruption, poor service delivery, and a widening gap between political promises and delivery. Concerns are also being raised about declining trust in institutions such as the Electoral Commission of South Africa, alongside alarmingly low voter registration figures and fears of even lower turnout in upcoming elections. Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, speaks to John Maytham about what this means for the future of South Africa’s democratic system and the risks of governments being elected by an ever-smaller share of the population. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Naomi O'Leary and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· After six days of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the conflict is escalating and has spread to Lebanon which has experienced sustained airstrikes from Israel. Iran has vowed to continue targeting Gulf countries having fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The US has entered into a conflict with no clear focus or potential resolution. Trump's demands on social media for an ‘unconditional surrender' from Iran seem like wishful thinking at this point.· Irish consumers are already feeling the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East as the average cost of 500 litres of home heating oil was put at just under €800 on Thursday, an increase of nearly 60 per cent in less than a week. The Government was quick to react, asking the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to launch an immediate investigation of domestic suppliers here.· And research into last year's presidential election by the Electoral Commission threw up some interesting results, not least that almost half of those who spoiled their vote, more than 12 per cent of the total ballot, did so because they didn't like any of the candidates. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Horse manure sparks tension in the Liberties, mobile phones can be ageing over time, and does an arts degree retain any value these days?Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tension is building in Ayawaso East as political parties project confidence less than 24 hours before the by election, with the Electoral Commission and Police declaring full readiness.

This Trawl kicks off with a little bit of Cilla Black, just like the old days. Then Jemma and Marina take a festive detour to check in on how Rossid Woods is coping with the season (spoiler: not brilliantly), and enjoy a very relatable warning about over-committing to plans.Then… unable to put it off any longer, they dive into the political storm of the week.Reform UK has received a record-breaking £9 million donation, the biggest political donation in British history. Marina and Jemma wade through what's been reported and the questions now being raised by Labour and the Lib Dems about transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and whether the Electoral Commission should investigate.Also on Farage's plate are the ongoing alleged racism controversies, and fresh allegations about campaign spending.Meanwhile, Charlie Mullins is explaining patriotism from the runway to Dubai and encouraging Brits to become economic migrants. Marina and Jemma unpack the week's biggest political messes so you don't have to. Bring snacks. And a stiff drink.Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform are in the money. This morning the Electoral Commission has dropped the latest figures on political donations, and Reform are streets ahead. Former Tory donor Christopher Harborne has handed Nigel Farage £9 million, what we believe to be a record amount from a single donor. How much impact will this have on Reform's chances of electoral success? How much influence do political donors have over how their money is spent?Elsewhere, Reform are conducting a press conference later this afternoon where they will be sticking it to Labour over its decision to postpone more local elections. Without new mayoral elections in four more areas, where are Reform going to spend their new cash?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.