What caused the interest

NEWS RELEASE

4th April 2005
ERS REACTION TO BIRMINGHAM VOTE FRAUD JUDGEMENT
The Electoral Reform Society believes that the judgement issued today by Richard Mawrey QC demands urgent action to protect and maintain confidence in our electoral system.


However, we recognise that legislative changes cannot take place before the general election and there will rightly be concern at the potential for fraud in the run up to and on May 5th. In order to prevent fraud in the general election and local council elections taking place this year we believe that the following action is necessary:

· all parties must commit themselves to following both the letter and spirit of the Electoral Commission's guidelines issued last week;

· the Government should give consideration to providing special funds to allow electoral registration officers, particularly in Birmingham, to write to all those currently on the postal voters lists reminding them that they have registered for a postal vote, offering them the option to cancel it and reminding them of the rules regarding privacy and security. Whether or not letters are sent, efforts should be made to notify electors using local media and in a language that can be understood by the voter;


· until the current law is changed as we have detailed above, returning officers should undertake checks on significant samples of applications for postal votes to the best of their abilities within the strictures of the current law;


· a hotline number should be established in co-operation with the police so that anyone with any concerns about fraud at this election can report those fears;


· guidance and training must be given to all police forces to ensure that they can properly investigate allegations of electoral fraud;


· all postal votes issued during the general election must be sent out with a clear warning about the requirement for secrecy and a reminder that the voter should not give their vote to any other person for any reason. This advice should be sent out in English and in any other languages widely spoken in the area.