Electoral Law Forum
The Electoral Law Forum is a network of election law practitioners and academics, who have a strong professional interest in election law.
The aim of the Election Law Forum is to arrange events to discuss developments and points of interest relating to election law (and related legal and policy developments), following in the footsteps of the earlier HS Chapman Society.
About Us
The forum was established in 2017 following a dinner at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Hodgson, attended by solicitors, barristers, academics and regulators with a professional interest in election law, and including senior representatives from the Electoral Commission and the Law Commission. The event demonstrated that there is a group of very knowledgeable practitioners in this field, and that it is worthwhile and beneficial to come together on occasion to share reflections and advance the common understanding of electoral law and regulation.
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The founding members of the forum included solicitors and leading counsel with a professional interest in this area, together with academics and Law Society representatives. Following in the footsteps of the earlier HS Chapman Society, the Forum has organised periodic meetings to discuss current matters of interest in electoral law and regulation, including engagement with the Electoral Commission.
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In 2023 a steering committee was established, including representatives from the solicitors Astraea Linskills Ltd, Bates Wells LLP, Bindmans LLP, Edwards Duthie Shamash LLP, Sharpe Pritchard LLP, Stone King LLP, and from barristers chambers 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, 39 Essex Chambers and Matrix Chambers.
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Recent meetings
Recent meetings have included:
Updates from the Chair, Chief Executive, General Counsel and relevant directors of the Electoral Commission.
Updates from the Association of Electoral Administrators
Updates on the Law Commission’s electoral law project
Legal and regulatory updates
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Future meetings
Our meetings take place under the Chatham House Rule with no press or media in attendance.
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Please get in touch if you have a relevant professional interest in electoral law or regulation and would like to join the invite list for future meetings.
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Founding principles of the Electoral Law Forum
The members of the ELF advise and act for a wide range of parties, candidates, electoral administrators and non-party campaigners.
The purpose of the ELF is to enable legal practitioners to exchange electoral law information and expertise for the benefit of the legal sector.
The ELF is strictly apolitical and non-partisan.
Membership is solicitors’ law firms, legal chambers and academics only.
The ELF will continue the established practice of inviting representatives of the Electoral Commission, the Association of Electoral Administrators and the Law Commission to present on topical issues or to attend as observers at events.
