Close
Elections and Referendums Archive
The Constitution Unit has in the past conducted important research that has shaped the rules and institutions that regulate elections and referendums in the UK and influenced wider electoral reform debates.
Electoral Systems and Structures in the UK
罢丑别听Independent Commission on Proportional Representation听conducted a detailed study in 2002-3 into the impact of the new voting systems that had been introduced for the devolved assemblies.听 Its听final report听was published in April 2003.听 It built in part on earlier听Constitution Unit work听on the same theme.
The Unit's early report听Establishing an Electoral Commission听was important in developing proposals for this new body.
Other early studies examined the听regional list system听adopted for elections to the European Parliament and the听information that should be given to voters听about new electoral systems.
Women's Representation in Politics
罢丑别听Women's Representation in Politics听project, led by Meg Russell, analysed means of overcoming the underrepresentation of women at Westminster and was crucial in laying the groundwork for the continuing use of all-women shortlists by UK political parties.
Referendums
This research focused on the best legal and administrative framework for the conduct of referendums.听 This work was conducted within the framework of the听Commission on the Conduct of Referendums, which reported in November 1996.听 The Commission's findings as they related to the referendum that was then expected on electoral reform were summarized in a听briefing听the following year, and this work was subsequently amplified in a听report听on the conduct of the expected electoral and Lords reform referendums.
During the Brexit debate, there were some calls for a second referendum on the matter. While taking no position on the issue, the Constitution Unit conducted research into the mechanics of how this might work, resulting in two reports:听The Mechanics of a Further Referendum on Brexit听in 2018, and听The Mechanics of a Further Referendum on Brexit Revisited: Questions for the New Parliament听in the run up to the the general election in 2019.