LIBDEMS AND LABOUR COMBINE TO FIGHT ELECTORAL FRAUD

In an unprecedented step, Woking LibDem and Labour Councillors have joined forces to insist that the Borough Council does all it can to prevent electoral fraud.

A Motion tabled for the Council meeting this Thursday (14 July) expresses concern at the widespread allegations of electoral fraud and/or malpractice in the 2004 and 2005 elections. It goes on to propose that the Council employ an extra Officer specifically tasked with "cleaning up" the electoral register and postal votes.

The new "Electoral Register Supervisory Officer" would specifically:

*** ensure that no elector is registered at more than one address in the Borough;

*** verify all existing and new applications for postal and proxy votes, in particular where the same receiving address is specified in relation to multiple postal vote applications and/or there are multiple applications from persons purporting to live at the same address; and

*** promptly remove deceased electors and those who have moved;

*** and would liaise with all other appropriate agencies, including the Police.

In a joint statement, Cllrs Sue Smith, Barry Pope, Philip Goldenberg and Peter Ford, the LibDem and Labour Leaders and Deputy Leaders, explained why they had tabled the Motion:

"The integrity of the electoral process is at the heart of our democracy.

"There have already been two Court cases based on electoral fraud which have attracted national publicity.

"Here in Surrey, a Guildford Conservative Councillor was jailed for three months for tampering with postal votes in the 2003 local elections.

"Woking itself has attracted adverse national publicity arising out of alleged electoral fraud in the 2004 and 2005 elections, with - according to the Daily Mail - '16 votes registered for postal ballots at a one-bedroom flat in Sheerwater'.

"We also have the scandal of Woking's missing marked register following the 2005 elections.

"The Council cannot by itself stop electoral fraud. But it can make a significant contribution by taking a more pro-active approach to ensuring that the only people on the electoral register are those entitled to vote; that people do not appear twice; and that the postal vote system is rigorously policed so as to minimise the chances of fraud."

ENDS

Issued on 6 July by Philip Goldenberg on behalf of the proposers and seconders.