"My government will continue to take forward a Bill on election pilots introduced during the last session."

This Bill, introduced in the 2003-04 session, would allow different voting methods to be piloted in certain areas at the European parliamentary elections in 2004 and at certain local elections held at the same time.

It is part of a wider government programme of modernising the electoral system, to make it more convenient and accessible.

It will also (for the pilot schemes only) extend powers of arrest without warrant for the offence of impersonating voters, and extend by up to two years the time limit for prosecuting offenders.

House of Commons - session 2002/03

First reading: September 17 2003 (HC Bill 160)

Second reading: October 21 2003

Standing Committee B

• 1st sitting: October 28 2003 (am)
• 2nd sitting: October 30 2003 (am)
• 3rd sitting: October 30 2003 (pm)
• 4th sitting: November 4 2003 (am)
• 5th sitting: November 4 2003 (pm)

House of Commons - session 2003/04

First reading: November 27 2003 (HC Bill 3)

Remaining stages: December 16 2003

House of Lords

First reading: December 17 2003 (HL Bill 14)

Second reading: January 8 2004

Committee

• 1st day: January 26 2004
• 2nd day: January 29 2004

Report: February 23 2004

Bill as reprinted (HL Bill 29)

Third reading: March 1 2004

House of Commons

Commons consideration of Lords amendments: March 8 2004

House of Lords

Lords consideration of Commons amendments:

March 16 2004 (day 1)
March 18 2004 (day 2) 

House of Commons

Commons consideration of Lords amendments: March 24 2004

House of Lords

Lords consideration of Commons amendments: March 25 2004

House of Commons

Commons consideration of Lords amendments: March 29 2004

House of Lords

Lords consideration of Commons amendments: March 30 2004

House of Commons

Commons consideration of Lords amendments: April 1 2004

House of Lords

Lords consideration of Commons amendments: April 1 2004

Royal Assent: April 1 2004