Stephen Robinson urges close monitoring of postal votes

2.29.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Apr 2005

Lib Dem candidate Stephen Robinson. "Postal voting must be closely monitored"

West Chelmsford Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Robinson says that a dramatic rise in the number of applications for postal votes has raised concerns about electoral fraud. He said, "A survey conducted by the Times found applications had increased by as much as five times in some marginal seats, compared with the 2001 election. Applications overall had almost trebled since 2001."

Stephen commented, "There must be close monitoring of how postal votes are handled in the General Election to deter and detect fraud. Changes to electoral law are urgently needed to restore confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and to ensure that people can vote in proper conditions of secrecy."

"Our policy in West Chelmsford is to follow scrupulously, the Electoral Commission's guidelines on dealing with postal votes This demands that party activists should not normally handle postal ballot papers or help voters to fill in their forms. However the guidance says that the voter can hand completed ballot papers to candidates or party workers, provided they are sealed. In this case the ballot paper should be posted to returning officers or taken to them as soon as possible (and definitely within two days)."