When councils change, elections must go on
As local government restructure continues to make headlines in 2025, the experience of councils that have already transitioned to unitary authorities offers valuable insight into the importance of digital readiness and trusted partnerships. At the heart of this evolution lies a critical function: the ability to deliver secure, accessible, and transparent elections under complex and changing conditions.
At Idox, we’re proud to have supported that transition by becoming the Electoral Management System (EMS) supplier to three of England’s newly formed unitary authorities in 2023— Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness, and Somerset. This milestone not only reflects our deep expertise in electoral services but also highlights the essential role that technology and sector understanding play in helping local government navigate change.
The shift to unitary governance brought about significant structural and operational change. In each case, councils had to harmonise systems, reconfigure services, and prepare for elections—all within tight timescales. Our work with these authorities provided crucial support during this transition, ensuring that electoral teams had the tools, data integrity, and guidance needed to maintain public confidence and meet regulatory requirements.
By delivering a scalable, robust EMS—and combining it with hands-on implementation and training—we helped these councils successfully manage elections amid complex organisational changes. This experience has reinforced why having a partner with proven capabilities in electoral services is so essential during local government restructure.
“Councils going through change can’t afford disruption to elections—it’s one of the most public-facing and time-critical functions they deliver. Our work with new unitary authorities has shown how important it is to have systems that are flexible, future-ready, and backed by a team that understands the electoral landscape inside out.”
— Grant Hazell, Senior Sales Specialist, Idox
Councils going through change can’t afford disruption to elections—it’s one of the most public-facing and time-critical functions they deliver. Our work with new unitary authorities has shown how important it is to have systems that are flexible, future-ready, and backed by a team that understands the electoral landscape inside out.
Grant Hazell
Senior Sales Specialist, Idox
With further reform on the horizon and digital transformation high on the agenda, many councils are now exploring how to make their electoral services more agile and resilient. That’s why now is an ideal time to consider Eros Cloud—our next-generation electoral management solution, built for flexibility, compliance, and collaboration.
As explored in our recent blog, “Spotlight on Local Government Restructure”, restructuring is not only about consolidating authorities; it’s about reimagining how public services are delivered. While the shape of future reform is still emerging, one thing is clear: councils need partners who understand both the regulatory environment and the operational realities of change.
With over 60 councils already trusting us to deliver electoral success, Idox is ready to support the next generation of local government with the technology, insight, and experience that count.
