20 August 2004
Electoral Commission officials will report on the potential for fraud in all-postal ballot elections next week, following a review of the controversial voting methods piloted this summer.
It follows allegations of fraud during the June elections. Police were called in to investigate a number of complaints, including accusations that voters were intimidated into handing over blank ballot papers, while others were forced to vote for a particular party.
Pat Tyrell, mayor of Halton Borough Council in Cheshire, was arrested on August 12 on suspicion of fraud during June's local and European election pilots, after which he was re-elected.
Labour councillor Tyrell was released on bail until October 19 pending further inquiries. The investigation is understood to relate to 'personation' – completing ballot forms in the absence of a voter.
Tyrell's daughter was also arrested, interviewed on suspicion of forgery and later bailed. Tyrell said: 'I am sure that this confusing matter will be resolved when the full facts are known. I am continuing my duties as mayor and local councillor.'
The council, meanwhile, said it was 'co-operating fully' with police.
The Electoral Commission report, which will be published on August 27, will not address the allegations of fraud in Cheshire directly, but a spokeswoman told Public Finance that it will 'assess issues surrounding security, public confidence and fraud more generally'.
All-postal ballots, viewed by the government as a means to improve voter turnout at elections, have encountered strong opposition. Critics claim they leave elections exposed to fraud, voter intimidation and peer pressure.
The House of Lords strongly opposed this summer's pilots in the Northwest – it took six debates to pass the proposal. Peers had earlier approved three other regions as suitable for pilots.
More than 14 million voters were covered by all-postal systems this summer and turnouts in the pilot areas rose – some to as high as 40% of the electorate – but there were equivalent rises in many areas using traditional voting methods.
The Commons select committee shadowing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already called for improved anti-fraud measures to be rolled out before all-postal ballots are used again.
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