Electoral Reform Society estimates only 18.5% of electorate will vote in November elections due to Home Office failings

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

November's elections for police and crime commissioners could achieve the lowest turnout ever for a British election, according to a study by the Electoral Reform Society.

The elections will cost £75m but the society estimates that only 18.5% of the electorate will vote because of fundamental Home Office errors in their planning.

Katie Ghose, the chief executive of the ERS, said the failures of the Home Office could prevent police and crime commissioners from carrying out their jobs effectively if they do not represent their electorates.

The election of police and crime commissioners is one of the government's flagship policies to make the management of the police more accountable. The election of sheriffs and public prosecutors is common in the United States.

Ghose said: "From the start the PCC elections have been marred by controversy and now it seems that the Home Office is shirking its responsibility to provide voters with even the most basic information that the elections are taking place.

"The stated purpose of electing police and crime commissioners was to improve accountability and reconnect the public and the police – an aim which is clearly undermined by a painfully low turnout."

Ghose criticised the Home Office for:

• Not carrying out a mail-out with information about the elections and the candidates.

• Only providing information online so that the 7 million people on the electoral roll who don't regularly access the internet are unlikely to know it is happening.

• Setting up a helpline but not activating it until 23 days before the election is due to take place.

• Holding the election in November, when no other elections are taking place.

• Including no provisions for information in accessible formats for people with sight difficulties or in any other languages.

Ghose said: "From calling a poll in November, to holding back on any opportunity for candidates to make their case to voters, the government seems to have done everything in its power to keep polling stations empty."

A Home Office spokesman said: "police and crime commissioners will, unlike invisible and unelected police authorities, give local communities a say over policing priorities in their areas and work with the police to cut crime."