Postal voting is open to corruption, says UKIP MEP

MEP Paul Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader

Postal voting is open to widespread misuse and even corruption and is in urgent need of reform, says local UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall.

Mr Nuttall has published a paper highlighting numerous examples of where postal voting has been used illicitly, and says he wants to amend the Representation of the People Act 2000 by scrapping the inclusion of postal voting “on demand”.

His call comes as people choosing to vote via post rather than polling station have started to receive their postal voting ballots for next month’s elections.

In his paper, published by the UKIP Parliamentary Resource Unit, Mr Nuttall points to recent postal voting anomalies as examples of how postal voting on demand has perverted the democratic process.

Mr Nuttall said: “I believe postal voting needs to return to its origins – allowing those who are genuinely infirm and housebound, or perhaps abroad serving in the armed forces, to have their say at the ballot box.

“What we have the moment is a system where anyone can demand to be allowed a postal vote rather than visit a polling station.

“This means that some households can have all their votes decided by one person, regardless of an individual’s own personal political persuasions.

“In my paper I’ve highlighted recorded incidents of postal voting abuse in a diverse number of places which I believe are just the tip of the iceberg.

“UKIP would amend the Representation of the People Act 2000 and do away with the ludicrous system that allows postal voting ‘on demand’.

“This would go a long way in restoring our electoral legitimacy and reinforce the belief that UK elections are being held in a fair and proper manner.

“The legacy of postal voting will have had a profound effect on UK electoral registers. It is therefore necessary to fully audit the electoral register to ensure that only those eligible to vote are able to do so.

“UKIP would oppose and object to attempts to introduce any other form of absent voting such as by online or by text, as the legitimacy of such votes can be compromised.

“UKIP would ensure that unless there is a genuine need for a postal ballot, voters will only be able to cast their vote in polling stations.”