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All materials published and promoted by L Smith, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU
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Postal vote fraud: Childishly simple |
"CHILDISHLY simple". That's how easy it is to register a fraudulent vote in Britain, according to a damning indictment of the electoral system from the Council of Europe.
It condemns in particular that no identity check is required when registering a vote, method of challenging close election results and the 'postal votes on demand' system.
This is vindication of criticisms MP George Galloway and Respect have made over the past four years.
It could have gone much further. Tower Hamlets council's election offices, charged with the conduct of elections, are under-staffed and lack monitoring powers.
The method of challenging an election is antiquated and has to be lodged in an absurdly short time after the voting.
But biggest problem is the postal vote on demand, as opposed to need. This allows family and other pressures by effectively abolishing the secret ballot.
The Council of Europe says some Government ministers are now in favour of radical change.
But this ignores the fact the reason the process is corrupted is that it suited the major parties, so they could better organise the turnout of their vote.
There is also a fundamental problem with the Council of Europe's recommendations.
It is perfectly reasonable to require some form of identity registering someone to vote.
But this must not be implemented in a way that discourages registration, particularly of the less well off.
Local authorities must be properly funded to carry out a positive registration process so the 'maximum' rather than the 'minimum' people register.
Above all, we have to get rid of the postal vote on demand. This was only ever a cheap and ineffective shortcut to increase turnout.
Its real motivation was partisan advantage for New Labour. If we don't get rid of it, more and more people will rightly come to the conclusion of the former German Justice minister who, when asked if she would be happy voting in a British election, simply said 'no'.
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