The Government has published a consultation on its plans to introduce electronic and workplace balloting for statutory union ballots.

It is the latest of a series of consultations (previously commented upon here and here) arising from the sweeping changes to the workplace under the Employment Rights Bill. In this case, the consultation addresses proposals to modernise the process by which statutory union ballots are conducted, by introducing electronic and workplace balloting. This would replace the current system in which almost all such ballots are conducted solely by post, an approach which the Government argues is “outdated, reduces democratic participation, and serves to dampen the voice of working people”.

The changes will be introduced through secondary legislation and be accompanied by a new Code of Practice which is intended to “provide clear and detailed guidance on how electronic and workplace ballots should operate in practice, giving all parties confidence that union ballots are carried out to a high standard”.

The consultation seeks views on the proposed contents of the Code, including guidance on the requirements for each party involved in a statutory union ballot to ensure a ballot meets the required standards, factors to be considered when choosing a voting method, and good practice in the conduct of statutory union ballots using these new voting methods.

The consultation closes on 28 January 2026 and can be read in full here.