Regions join postal vote pilot

Two more regions have been chosen to pilot all-postal ballots at the local council and European Parliament elections this summer.

Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West join the North East and East Midlands in the 10 June trial.

Instead of visiting polling stations, voters will be sent ballot papers to return to their local council.

Local government minister Nick Raynsford said he hoped the move would encourage more people to take part.

Higher turnout

The announcement from junior constitutional affairs minister Christopher Leslie followed a report by the Electoral Commission.

Mr Leslie said the trial involving the four regions would help the government progress its electoral modernisation agenda.

Nick Raynsford said: "We are committed to increasing voter participation and all-postal voting offers a useful, practical alternative to traditional polling stations.

"I hope that the pilots announced today will help to make voting easier and more convenient and encourage more people to participate in these elections.

"I am also pleased that the inclusion of both Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West will extend this opportunity to even more people."