ALLEGATIONS OF POSTAL VOTING FRAUD IN WOKING

The report in a national newspaper of allegations of postal voting fraud in the 2004 Borough Council election for Maybury and Sheerwater ward comes as no surprise to us.

We reported concerns of residents to the police both before and after these elections and were very unhappy to be told that the police were not intending to take action.

Across the borough turnout increased by a third, but in Maybury and Sheerwater it doubled. That, by itself, is not important. What is important is that residents' concerns about fraudulent voting in that ward were ignored. We welcome the indication in the national press that the local police are at last taking a more serious interest.

When we discovered earlier this year that one property mentioned in the press, 98 Albert Drive, had 16 voters registered there, the Electoral Registration Officer investigated and removed those names from the register. We understand that other addresses we reported have also been investigated and some further names removed. We would welcome further checks to ensure that all voters are legally on the electoral roll and that postal votes are used properly. The integrity of our democratic process is critical and must be protected.

Woking's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, Dr Anne Lee said "The real problem is Labour's expansion of postal voting without proper controls. It is an invitation to fraud. We really must have a system of being able to cross-check signatures on postal votes and Liberal Democrats in Parliament have argued strongly for this."

Further information: Dr Anne Lee 07973 175059 (m)