Fraud concerns over postal vote increase

Friday, 15 April 2005 12:00 AM

A new survey revealing a massive increase in the number of applications for postal votes has led to new concerns about electoral fraud.

Applications for postal votes for the general election have increased by up to five times in marginal constituencies, according to a new survey.

The study for the Times reveals that applications have almost trebled since the last general election in 2001.

It comes after six Labour councillors in Birmingham were found guilty of fraud using postal votes. The electoral commissioner involved in the Birmingham case, Richard Mawrey QC, described the postal voting system as "hopelessly insecure".

Commenting on today's survey, the Electoral Reform Society said the large increases in postal voting applications did raise the risk of fraud.

"There has been a massive increase since 2001 and this raises both problems of potential fraud and logistical problems for election office staff," a spokesman said.

"We hope that election officials have had a wake-up call from last year and will have put procedures in place to cope with any further increase."

The newspaper also revealed that the Government has, for the first time ever in a general election, invited international observers to monitor the last week of the campaign.

If they accept the invitation, the team at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights would look at postal voting as part of their work.

According to today's survey, the number of postal vote applications in Braintree, where Labour has a slim 358 majority over the Tories, has jumped from 3,000 to 10,000.

In Cheadle in Manchester, where the Lib Dems are defending a majority of 33, applications have gone up 500 per cent since 2001, from 1,695 to 8,226.

Some of the increase has been put down to the existence of all-postal ballot pilot schemes conducted in three regions during last year's local elections.

And some candidates have welcomed the increase at face value, as a sign of a higher turnout.

"The biggest threat to our majority is turnout, so we are encouraging postal votes wherever we can," said Labour MP Jim Knight, who is defending a 153-vote majority in Dorset South.

One area of controversy is the news that candidates from all parties have been asking electors to return postal vote forms to themselves, rather than the returning officer. This is perfectly legal, but returning officers do suggest that no third party should handle postal votes.

Conservative leader Michael Howard said this morning he was "deeply concerned" about the security of the system.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Howard accused the Prime Minister of rejecting the Electoral Commission's proposals on postal voting, and having "damaged democracy".

When it was pointed out that the Conservatives were ignoring advice from the Electoral Commission and the Association of Chief Police Officers and handling postal votes, the Tory leader insisted that his party was "complying with the rules".

"We are complying with the rules in every respect. If any can point to an example in which a Conservative candidate is not complying with the rules, let me know and we will take action to deal with that."

The system should be different, he said, but until he was in a position to change it, he could not be held responsible. He dismissed the suggestion that his stance was unprincipled.

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