Democratic Engagement Projects: engaging under-registered groups in democracy

We will commission projects which aim to increase democratic participation among groups who are less likely to be registered to vote and those who face other barriers. More information on these groups can be found in the attached EOI document.

We will commission projects grouped under the following Lots:

Lot 1: Action research projects, to pilot new and innovative approaches to democratic engagement in England

Lot 2: Accessible voting projects, to support disabled and neurodivergent voters across the UK

Lot 3: Digital engagement projects, to engage new and diverse audiences and explore the role that digital engagement can have in increasing participation

Lot 4 - Democratic Engagement Projects (Scotland) - small to medium scale projects that will pilot new and innovative approaches in Scotland only.

We welcome a wide range of initiatives. We will encourage innovation and creativity from partners, while incorporating best practice in education and community engagement. Initiatives could include traditional education interventions, activities to upskill professionals and trusted community voices, initiatives to build capacity to deliver democratic engagement, events, tech-based solutions, and awareness raising activities.

Projects should explore a range of topics based on what is important to their audiences, such as:

• Registering to vote
• The voter ID requirement
• Ways to vote
• How to identify mis- and disinformation
• What to expect at the polling station
• Upcoming changes to elections

This call is intended for organisations with a proven track record of delivering community or democratic engagement activities. While we welcome diverse expertise, applications from organisations whose primary focus is academic research, consultancy or market analysis are discouraged unless they are part of a joint bid led by an organisation with the required experience.

Next steps

If you are interested in applying for this tender, please register your interest.

1. Register on the portal

The expected invitation to tender will be published on the Electoral Commission's Procurement Portal, please register as a supplier by following this link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/electoralcommission

If you need help with registering, please may you contact the In-tend Technical Helpdesk on 0114 407 0065.

2. Contact procurement, register interest

Once you have registered on the portal, please contact us stating which lot/s you intend on applying for. There is no need to formally respond to the tender at this stage with an application.

To express interest, please:

1. Register on the Electoral Commission's In-Tend Procurement Portal
2. Email procurement@electoralcommission.org.uk with confirmation of interest.

Please include 'WP132 Democratic Engagement Projects 2025-30' in the subject line.

Contact details

Name: The Electoral Commission - Procurement Team

Email address: procurement@electoralcommission.org.uk