01 May 2009
The May 2008 elections in England and Wales were free from major incidents of electoral fraud, a report published today found. There were no cases on the scale of the past high-profile incidents in Birmingham, Peterborough and Slough and there were no elections in which the outcome was challenged on the grounds of, or shown to have been affected by, incidents of electoral malpractice.
Details of electoral malpractice allegations at the 2008 elections have been revealed in a report published by the Electoral Commission, in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Police National Information and Co-ordination Centre. The report is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and sets a benchmark for the analysis of electoral fraud in future elections.
In May 2008, over 16 million votes were cast at the local elections in England and Wales and for the London Mayor and London Assembly. Of a total 103 cases of alleged electoral malpractice recorded at the May 2008 elections, one case resulted in a conviction and nine resulted in a caution. In the vast majority 82 cases or 81 percent police decided to take no further action. Thirteen cases are still under investigation or awaiting decision by the CPS. [1]
Commenting on the report, Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said:
"It's important that when people cast their vote, they can have confidence that the electoral system is secure. The data in our report - the first of its kind - should go a long way to reassuring voters that the most recent elections were free from major incidents of electoral fraud.
High profile cases like those in Birmingham, Peterborough and Slough influence our perception of the levels of fraud but things have changed since then. There have been a number of changes to make registration and voting safer, including new security checks for postal votes and new powers for Electoral Registration Officers to review registrations that they believe are suspicious. The police have devoted time and resources to investigating this type of crime and prison sentences for electoral fraud send a message about its seriousness.
But there are still vulnerabilities in the system, and that is why we welcome the Government's commitment to move from the current outdated system reliant on the "head of the household" to a system of individual registration which gives us all the right to register to vote for ourselves. We will continue to work hard with the police to prevent and deal with any instance of electoral fraud."
Commenting on the report, Stuart Hyde, Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police and lead on electoral fraud for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said:
The 2008 elections mark a decisive step forward in monitoring reports of electoral malpractice across England and Wales. Now that this system has been put in place, through further collaboration between the police service and the Electoral Commission we can build on it to ensure it develops for future elections.
The police service continues to support the democratic process and tackle those who would seek to undermine it. There is little evidence of fraud on a major scale but by promoting best practice and learning from previous experience we can further reduce the opportunities for fraud. We remain vigilant and prepared to investigate where evidence of wrong doing emerges.
Working with ACPOs Police National Information and Co-ordination Centre branch, the Commission gathered information from police forces across England and Wales on allegations made to them in relation to these elections.
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For further information please contact:
Electoral Commission Press office
020 7271 0529 / 0527
email: press@electoralcommission.org.uk
outside office hours 07789 920414
Notes to editors:
1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UKs democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections.
2. An embargoed copied of the report Allegations of electoral malpractice at the May 2008 elections in England and Wales are available upon request.
3. The report was a joint project by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Electoral Commission.
4. The Electoral Commission works to prevent malpractice by producing guidance and training for the police and the people that run elections. The police have established Single Points of Contacts local officers who are responsible for electoral fraud matters in their area - in every territorial police force in Great Britain. The Commission also works with political parties and candidates; all the main parties have signed up to a code of conduct on handling postal votes that goes beyond minimum legal requirements.
