Long time leader of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Howling Laud Hope, is interviewed at the Runcorn and Helsby By-Election, his latest outing as a candidate, by Edd Charlton. From his succession from Screaming Lord Sutch, his co-leadership with ginger tom, Catmando, and historically the longest serving party leader since the 19th century, this interview ranges across Loony policies, By-Election successes, and personal stories from his 25 years as party leader.

Welcome to the Loonyverse! Howling Laud Hope of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Alex Iszatt talks to Martin Simonneau of “Cool Earth” about supporting and delivering local democratic decision making in remote communities such as in the Amazon Rainforest. Martin explains that Democracy is practised by these communities and talks about how their voices are amplified at international conferences such as The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which recently took place in New York.

Delivering Democracy in Remote Amazonian Communities

Peter Stanyon, chief executive to The Association of Electoral Administrators, is interviewed by Jason McKenna as to how elections are delivered by staff across the country.

Peter’s years of experience delivering elections shines a light on the challenges, the stories and just what #dogsatpollingstations means to council staff and voters across the UK.

How are elections really run?

Lord Hayward is interviewed by Alex Iszatt concerning The 2023 Ballot Secrecy Act which gives greater powers to staff running polling stations to prevent overseeing another person’s vote. Following data collected by Democracy Volunteers, Lord Hayward’s bill received all party support, updating the 1872 Ballot Act, to make it an offence to influence another person’s vote in the polling station.

Members of The House of Lords rarely succeed in passing a Private Member’s Bill so this success indicates how important this new legislation was.

2025 should see new signage in polling stations discouraging so-called “family voting”.

Lord Hayward and the Secrecy of the Ballot

US Elections expert David Levine is interviewed by Edd Charlton on President Trump's Executive Order "Preserving And Protecting The Integrity of American Elections" and its impacts on US democracy. They also discuss Congress's SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) and how this effects the way American elections will work in the future.

David Levine is a senior fellow at UMD’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, who works to ensure that eligible voters can vote, free and fair elections are perceived as legitimate, and election processes are properly administered and secured. He is also an election security adjunct professor at George Mason University, an advisory committee member for the Global Cyber Alliance's Cybersecurity Toolkit for Elections, an advisory council member for The Election Reformers Network, a member of the Election Verification Network, and a contributor to the Fulcrum.

President Trump and Preserving and Protecting The Integrity of US Elections

Johan Norberg is interviewed by Jason McKenna. Norberg is a Swedish author and historian of ideas. He is a senior fellow at the Cato institute. In this interview Norberg assesses the present state of democracy around the world and explains why he still has hope for western democracy. In 2003 Norberg won the Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung prize along side Otmar Issing and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Is Democracy In Decline? With "Historian of Ideas" Johan Norberg

Liz Pendleton is interviewed by Alex Iszatt. Media, especially digital, is an increasing part of our democratic debate. Liz Pendleton is Director of the Climate Media Coalition and Eco Warriorz, Liz talks about her experiences as an activist and how she sees media shaping the future of our democracies.

Stop The Presses? Modern Media with Liz Pendleton

Alex Iszatt interviews Director of Democracy Volunteers, Dr. John Ault, on the electoral interference in Finland's municipal and county elections, by Russia, held on 13th April 2025.

Election Special - Finland On The Front Line of Democracy

Democracy Volunteers brings you a new podcast concerning elections both in the UK and around the world. Interviews with experts, politicians, as well as voters looking at elections both past and present. Episode 1 is hosted by Edd Charlton, TV Presenter and Actor, talking to voters about their first experiences of voting and what motivated them to go to the polls for the first time. Interviewees includes star TV Chef Theo Michaels.

First Episode - First Time Voters

The Observations Podcast, brought to you by the Democracy Volunteers team, brings you insightful coverage of elections—past, present, local, national, and international. Our team of experts dives into the stories behind the ballots, speaking with candidates, campaigners, organisers and winners to uncover the narratives you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tune in for a deeper look at the elections that shape our world. Our expert interviewers: TV presenter Edd Charlton, ITV and BBC journalist Alex Iszatt and political commentator Jason McKenna bring their skills to our “Observations” podcast which seeks to inform our listeners to the world of elections and elections observation.

We are nonpartisan and so is it. We interview behind elections and democracy. Subscribe today or just listen in.

Democracy Volunteers

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