Committee publication · Correspondence · 7 July 2026
Letter from the Minister for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection relating to electronic balloting for Trade Union ballots, 22 June 2026
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Employment rights
Summary
Minister Kate Dearden informs the Business and Trade Committee that the government has laid a Statutory Instrument and draft Code of Practice to enable trade unions to conduct statutory ballots using electronic and workplace voting methods alongside postal ballots. The changes, expected to come into effect in August 2026, aim to increase participation and modernise union democracy while maintaining ballot security through independent scrutineers.
Key findings
- Government permits three new voting methods (electronic, hybrid, and workplace balloting) for statutory trade union ballots, usable individually or in combination with postal votes
- Electronic and hybrid methods apply to all statutory ballots except recognition/derecognition ballots conducted by the Central Arbitration Committee; workplace balloting permitted for industrial action ballots
- Robust safeguards mandated including independent scrutineer oversight, ballot secrecy maintenance, and malpractice prevention measures
- New statutory Code of Practice laid before Parliament provides detailed guidance on operation of electronic and workplace ballots
- Phased delivery approach: Phase One covers current changes; Phase Two will extend hybrid and electronic methods to recognition and derecognition ballots
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Kate Dearden MP, Liam Byrne MP, Department for Business and Trade, Trade unions, Central Arbitration Committee
Notable line
“Allowing these additional voting methods could increase participation, make it easier for members to have their voices heard, and support strong democratic mandates.”
Key Quotes
“The Plan to Make Work Pay sets out an ambitious agenda to ensure employment rights are fit for a modern economy, empowering working people and contributing to economic growth.”
“The government plans to permit three new voting methods, in addition to postal ballots, for certain statutory ballots. The permitted methods can be used in combina- tion with each other, or individually, to provide flexibility and maximise uptake.”
“Robust safeguards will apply to ensure that the new methods allow all eligible members to vote, that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained, and that the risk of unfairness and mal- practice is minimised.”
“In all circumstances, statutory union ballots conducted by the new methods must be conducted by an independent scrutineer who is named or otherwise meets the conditions in the Trade Union Ballots and Elections (Independent Scrutineer Qualifications) Order”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗