The first Private Members Bill of this Parliament has passed all stages in the Houses of Commons and Lords. The bill, proposed by Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith Tracy Gilbert, will make it easier for voters in Scotland and Wales to apply for a postal or proxy vote in devolved elections next year.
The Private Member’s Bill, Absent Voting (Scotland and Wales) Bill, passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords today (Friday 24 October). As no changes were made to the Bill in the House of Lords it will now go forward for Royal Assent.
Tracy Gilbert MP was drawn 12th in the Private Members Bill ballot last September. Twenty MPs are drawn in the ballot, giving them a right to introduce a bill.
Ms. Gilbert’s bill will allow voters to apply for a postal or proxy vote online, making it easier for voters to participate in elections and ending the anomaly in Scotland and Wales where voters can apply online for UK Parliament elections but not devolved elections.
Currently, voters must apply for a proxy vote by sending a physical letter. This can make the process difficult for people with disabilities or for those living outside the country. This necessary legislative change means voters will now be able to apply online for a postal or proxy vote for Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru elections next year.
During the passage of the bill through Parliament, Gilbert won cross-party praise for her bill being called a ‘modern day chartist woman’ by Tonia Antoniazzi MP.
Tracy Gilbert MP said: “I’m thrilled that my Private Member’s Bill is the first of this Parliament to pass both Houses of Parliament. I am grateful for the cross-party support the Bill has received.
“My bill will simplify the process for applying for a postal or proxy vote in next year’s Scottish and Welsh Parliament elections by enabling voters to apply online, extending access to democracy.”
A copy of the Bill can be found here – https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3785
Progress of Private Member Bills (Ballot Bill) (listed in order of ballot)
| Member | Bill | Current/Next Stage |
| Kim Leadbeater, Labour (Spen Valley) | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill | Lords – Committee Stage |
| Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrats (Cheltenham) | New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Dr Roz Savage, Liberal Democrats (South Cotswolds) | Climate and Nature Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Clive Lewis, Labour (Norwich South) | Water Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Josh MacAlister, Labour (Whitehaven and Workington) | Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill | Withdrawn |
| Dr Scott Arthur, Labour (Edinburgh South West) | Rare Cancers Bill | Lords – Second Reading |
| Jim Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice (North Antrim) | European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Peter Lamb, Labour (Crawley) | Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Alex McIntyre, Labour (Gloucester) | Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill | Commons – Report Stage |
| Andrew Ranger, Labour (Wrexham) | Licensing Hours Extensions Bill | Lords – Second Reading |
| Jake Richards, Labour (Rother Valley) | Looked After Children (Distance Placements) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Tracy Gilbert, Labour (Edinburgh North and Leith) | Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill | Royal Assent |
| Linsey Farnsworth, Labour (Amber Valley) | Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill | Lords – Second Reading |
| John Grady, Labour (Glasgow East) | Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill | Lords – Committee Stage |
| Rachael Maskell, Labour (Co-op), (York Central) | Short-term Let Accommodation Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Ruth Jones, Labour (Newport West and Islwyn) | Fur (Import and Sale) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Dr Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrats (Winchester) | Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill | Lords – Committee Stage |
| Sarah Owen, Labour (Luton North) | Fireworks Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrats (North East Fife) | Gambling Act 2005 (Monetary Limits for Lotteries) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
| Dr Rupa Huq, Labour (Ealing Central and Acton) | Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill | Commons – Second Reading |
