New Electoral Administration Bill doesn't go far enough

1.22.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 13th Oct 2005

The Government are publishing a new Electoral Administration Bill. This follows widespread concern about postal voting, and will bring in new electoral fraud offences; introduce a marked register of postal votes received to prevent fraud; and improve security markings on ballot papers.

Planned measures may also include voters being required to give their signature and date of birth on electoral registration forms so that postal votes can be verified, a ban on political parties and community leaders gathering postal vote application forms.

David Heath MP, Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs spokesman said "This Bill will come as a disappointment to those who were hoping for a more rigorous overhaul of the system. The Bill is characterised by a raft of welcome, overdue but modest improvements. It is a typical New Labour target driven and bureaucratic approach. There is a complete failure to respond effectively to concerns about the integrity of the system, particularly over postal ballots where we need a comprehensive system of individual voter identification."