Continuing Voter ID challenges in 2026 Elections

Democracy Volunteers observed the electoral process in all of the new Welsh Senedd constituencies, 61 Scottish Parliamentary constituencies as well as every London Borough and numerous other councils across England. In total, the number of observers, experts and support staff was over 200 at this election.

These observers generally formed teams of two, sometimes three, and attended 1,165 polling stations, across these constituencies and local authority areas.

Democracy Volunteers’ observers spent between 30 and 45 minutes at each polling venue observing the voting process and then completed an online survey, regarding the integrity of the electoral process, for each polling station.
FINAL REPORT - Westminster General Election July 2024
Democracy Volunteers observed the electoral process in 204 Westminster parliamentary constituencies across the UK. The organisation deployed two or more observers to each constituency. In total, the number of observers, experts and support staff was over 200 at this election.
Democracy Under Threat? The Hidden Toll on Local Election Candidates
As part of Democracy Volunteers’ election observation for the 2025 English Local Elections, held on May 1st, the team worked with students from Manchester University to assess the impact on local election candidates because of the threats they receive.
Breaches of the Secret Ballot and how to prevent them
Democracy Volunteers has been observing elections in the UK for 10 years. We see breaches of the secret ballot across the UK and we think it is important to explain more about it and how it should be possible to limit or prevent it.

What is the secret ballot? Introduced...
Democracy Volunteers backs Paris ‘Call for Action’ on Election Observation
Our director Dr John Ault has backed the international call to action on election observation. On the 29th of April, within the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the conference (Towards Trusted and Inclusive Electoral Processes: The Role of Observers) called on the Council of Europe’s member...
Observers Deployed from Orkney to Ynys Môn & from Isleworth to the Isle of Wight
Democracy Volunteers has deployed observers across Great Britain for the largest election observation since the 2024 UK General Election.

Our Work

FINAL REPORT – English Local Elections (including Voter ID Trials) 02/05/19

Democracy Volunteers deployed teams across the four councils conducting Voter ID Pilots on May 2nd. Teams of observers were deployed to Derby, Pendle, Mid-Sussex and Woking. The selection of...

FINAL REPORT – Netherlands Provincial and water board elections 20/03/19

The mission deployed 6 observers in three teams of two. These were registered with The Netherlands’s Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. These six observers were accredited to...

FINAL REPORT – Newport West Parliamentary By-election 04/04/19

A team of 6 observers registered with, and accredited by, the UK’s Electoral Commission made 45 separate observations across the 55 different polling stations in the Newport West Parliamentary...

FINAL REPORT – Swedish Parliamentary Election 09/09/18

Observers deployed were from Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Each observation was conducted in pairs to allow for objective...

FINAL REPORT – Ireland’s Referendum on the 36th Amendment of the Constitution (Abortion) 25/05/18

A team of 12 international election observers attended over 175 polling stations across Ireland in the May 25th referendum. The team was made up of observers from the UK,...

FINAL REPORT – Tower Hamlets Mayoral and Council Elections 03/05/18

The mission deployed a series of observers to attend several aspects of the electoral process in Tower Hamlets. Before polling day a team of 2 attended the Council’s briefing...

FINAL REPORT – English Local Elections (including Voter ID Pilots) 03/05/18

All observers were trained and briefed on the process of observation in the days before polling day. The briefing for the Northern Councils was held in Manchester on Saturday...

SPECIAL REPORT – Voter ID Pilots in English Local Elections 03/05/18

Observers attended polling stations in teams of two. This started with the opening of polls at 7am and ended at 10pm. Observations lasted no less than 30 minutes and...

FINAL REPORT – Netherlands Municipal Elections & Advisory Referendum 21/03/18

The mission deployed 4 observers in two teams of two. These were registered with The Netherlands’s Ministry of The Interior and Kingdom Relations. These four observers were accredited to...

FINAL REPORT – Finnish Presidential Election 28/01/18

The mission deployed 6 observers in three teams of two. These were registered with Finland’s Ministry of Justice, and accredited to observe across Finland. They made 41 separate observations...

FINAL REPORT – Norwegian Parliamentary Elections 11/09/17

Three teams made up of 6 observers made up in teams of two (with a local translator), who were registered with Norway’s Directorate of Elections, and accredited by the...

FINAL REPORT – UK General Election 08/06/17

Twenty teams made up of 73 observers made up in teams of 2, 3 or 4, who were registered with the UK’s Electoral Commission, made 642 separate observations in...