Call to stamp out postal vote fraud

CONSERVATIVE MEP for Greater Manchester Sajjad Karim has expressed concerns about the region’s postal-voting record.

This week thousands of postal votes will be dropping through letterboxes across the region for both the General and local government elections.

Mr Karim is worried about vote fraud and has called on local police to protect electors and ensure they can make their own vote without coercion.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of police investigations into ballot rigging.

The issue was highlighted by the Electoral Commission in a report in 2013, which identified Oldham, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and Hyndburn as five of 16 local authorities across the country at greatest risk of electoral fraud .

The government liberalised the postal voting regulations in 2001, since when the number of people using absent votes has shot up over 200 per cent in some constituencies - dramatically so in seats with substantial Asian electorates.

“It gives an opportunity for political activists to commit fraud on these communities. Electors need to be confident that the police will provide immediate assistance should anyone find themselves intimidated or their ballot interfered with.”