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By-elections: Costs

Asked by David SimmondsConservativeSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled Answered 12 June 2026UIN 7842

The question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of the average cost to a local authority of holding and administering a (a) Parliamentary, (b) combined authority mayoral and (c) local council ward by-election.

Answered by Sir Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission has not made an assessment on the average cost of holding and administering elections, as it is not responsible for funding elections. The UK Government, through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, provides funding for the administration of parliamentary by-elections. The Combined authority and local authority will fund the cost of running their own by-elections respectively.

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