London-based British Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston, has welcomed the passage of the Representation of the People Bill 2026, saying the legislation will strengthen democracy, increase transparency and make it easier for eligible citizens to participate in elections.
Gill said she was proud to vote for the Bill, which includes a wide range of proposed reforms covering political donations, electoral registration, voting rights, election campaigning and protections for candidates and election workers.
Among its key measures are tougher rules aimed at preventing foreign money and hostile actors from influencing UK elections, restrictions on political donations made through cryptocurrency, and requirements for companies making political donations to demonstrate a genuine UK or Irish connection. The government says the measures are intended to improve transparency around political funding and campaign spending.
The legislation also seeks to respond to emerging challenges to democratic processes, including AI-generated election material and misinformation. It contains measures concerning campaign material and electoral transparency as technology increasingly becomes part of political campaigning.
A major element of the Bill is the extension of voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in UK elections. The government says the change is intended to encourage young people to engage with democratic processes at an earlier age and establish lifelong participation in elections.
The Bill also proposes changes to voter registration, including measures designed to make registration easier and enable testing of new methods of registration. The government has said that improving the accessibility and accuracy of electoral information is an important part of the reforms.
Another important component concerns the safety of candidates, campaigners and electoral staff. Government policy documents say the legislation is intended to provide stronger protection against harassment and intimidation, which officials say can discourage people from participating in public life.
Gill’s parliamentary voting record shows that she voted Aye on the Bill’s Third Reading on September 2, 2026. The Commons subsequently approved the Third Reading motion. Her record also shows that she voted against the reasoned amendment at the Bill’s Second Reading in March.
In her statement, Gill said the reforms are intended to safeguard elections, encourage democratic participation and help ensure that Britain’s democratic system remains secure and transparent for future generations.
The Representation of the People Bill represents one of the UK’s significant recent packages of electoral reforms, bringing together changes affecting who can vote, how people register, how political money is regulated, how campaigns operate and how participants in elections are protected.
Preet Kaur Gill has represented Birmingham Edgbaston in the House of Commons and has continued to participate in parliamentary divisions on the legislation throughout its passage.