TUC calls for law to allow e-voting in union elections

The TUC is calling for a change in the law to allow union members to use new technologies in statutory union elections, known as e-Democracy.

The government is planning major changes to the legislation on local and national elections to allow people to vote in a range of different ways.

The TUC wants similar changes for union ballots.

Current trade union balloting legislation prohibits unions using online or phone voting in major elections, but the TUC feels this should change.

It says: "Having more voting options would be a boost to union democracy, allowing more people to take part in elections, as well as helping to save time and money."

Some unions have evidence from ballots not affected by the legislation to suggest turnout could be improved. Civil service union PCS, for example, found that turnout rose by 5%-10% in large ballots and more than doubled in some smaller, issue-specific ballots when electronic voting was allowed.