Is postal voting an invitation to fraud?

Applications for postal votes have tripled since the last general election against a background of concerns over the system's security.

The results of county council elections in Lancashire could face legal challenges, after 16,000 ballots in the Wyre Borough area were printed with the wrong identity numbers.

Earlier this month, a judge found postal voting fraud to be "widespread" in the 2004 local elections in Birmingham. But local government minister Nick Raynsford said anti-fraud measures were being stepped up.

Have you applied for a postal vote? Have you experienced any problems in using your postal vote? Do you think the system is secure? Will postal voting help boost turnout?

This debate is now closed for polling day. Thank you for your comments.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

Why on earth can't ex-pats postal votes be sent out a little earlier, or at least be sent airmail forms? With Monday being a Bank Holiday (and therefore no postal delivery in the UK causing more delay), it is pretty unlikely that my vote will be recorded.
Siobhan Edge, Cambridge, Wisconsin

Postal voting should be used as a last resort for those who have no other choice. Sadly in our age of bone idleness we let anyone do it. I am surprised you can't use the red button on your Sky TV remote to vote yet. I wonder when that will catch on.
Richard Scott, Iver, UK

I just voted by postal vote and signed the witness declaration myself as I had no one else to sign it. If I can do this everyone can do this, get a batch of postal votes and just sign them. Who knows how many other postal votes have been signed this way. Postal voting is a total failure and open to fraud big time.
Ron, Middlesbrough.UK

The Mass postal vote system should be scrapped immediately, even if it means re-running the election. Maybe it is the politicians' favourite as it is so open to abuse.
Tommy Cullen, South Shields, UK

The secret ballot is the only reliable method of a fair and democratic result. It was introduced to prevent intimidation of voters and is the cornerstone of representative democracy, whatever underlying voting method is used (STV, First past the post or whatever).
Charles, Surrey

A number of people have complained about postal ballots arriving late. Me too! Mine arrived today, leaving me two days to get it to Nottingham from Toronto. Why can't they be sent earlier, when it's pretty clear that international post takes longer than domestic post?
Dan Bassford, Toronto, Canada

Someone somewhere has my vote, and could use it Paul White, Sandwich, Kent

I would think so. I've requested a postal vote to be sent to where I work during the week, and despite several phone calls and insistence from the council that they've sent it out, it hasn't arrived. Someone somewhere has my vote, and could use it. I think this is an utter shambles particularly as Thanet South is the most marginal constituency in the South East.
Paul White, Sandwich, Kent

As someone who is housebound I even rely on another to post my ballot papers for me. Due to an error in despatching thousands of postal votes here I have been asked to travel to the civic centre to collect my papers myself. Not only impossible but defeats the purpose of postal voting in my case.
S Smith, Folkestone, UK

Today, Tuesday 3 May, my wife and I received, at last, our postal voting forms! Suggestions please how we can get them back to England by 10pm Thursday 5 May?
Derek Hayman, Chester England (Lake Wales Florida)

If you are resident in your own constituency on polling day and in good health you should make the effort Richard Scammell, Bridgwater, UK

Postal votes are wide open to fraud and should only be allowed as a last resort. If you are resident in your own constituency on polling day and in good health you should make the effort. Bone idleness is no excuse.
Richard Scammell, Bridgwater, UK

I would like to be able to vote but on the last day for applying for postal votes I was told that there was a slot available at my local hospital for an operation for which I have been waiting three months. With an hour or so to spare I tried to contact the relevant office, to get a postal vote but could not get through. I am thus left with a choice, should I risk being late for a hospital appointment or not vote.
Richard Philips, Richmond, Surrey

I was disenfranchised during the European elections while I was living abroad (working in the European Parliament ironically); but hey! Never mind - the authorities have tried to give me two votes this time! Of course the electoral system isn't open to fraud!
Mike, Leicester

The postal voting system is by no means secure. You are asked to tick your choice on the supplied ballot card, then sign a separate form as a means of confirming your vote. What is to stop someone sabotaging your vote by swapping the ballot card with another, sporting a different choice? The postal voting system should be banned. If people are too ashamed to go to their local poling station on May 5, then they should not be voting at all!
John Galantini, Southampton, UK

Of course postal voting is open to fraud, just like any other sort of voting be it electronic (remember the hanging chads in Florida) or turning up to vote. There is nothing to stop someone walking into a polling station early in the morning and again in the afternoon and voting posing as someone else, you don't need your polling card, or any form of ID or proof of address. So I don't see what all the fuss is about. It strikes me that the ones doing the complaining are the ones likely to loose out in a higher turn out, and we all know who that is don't we Mr Howard?
Nigel Greensitt, Salford, UK

Postal voting is totally open to abuse, but, so is voting in person John, Estepona, Spain

Postal voting is totally open to abuse, but, so is voting in person. Nobody is asked for proof of identity, anyone can walk into a polling station, claim to be some else and vote, it's a disgrace. I wonder how many "dead" people will vote at this election. Their vote could decide some marginals.
John, Estepona, Spain

Tory postal votes have been lost by the council in Milton Keynes. Apparently they could have been shredded by mistake.
A Grieve, Milton Keynes

I requested a postal vote months ago, yet one day before it needs to be sent back to be counted it still hasn't arrived. It's difficult not to wonder whether there is fraudulent behaviour surrounding postal voting. For many of us its the easiest way of voting and parties are losing valuable votes by not ensuring it is carried out properly.
Annie, Southampton

I would just like to get my postal vote to arrive. With three days to go I doubt that my ballot paper will even get here before election day.
Tim, Muscat, Oman

I totally disagree with postal voting unless it is completely unavoidable, in that you are not in the country at the time of the election, be it work or holiday. The polls are open from 7am to 10pm, so there is more than enough time to spare five minutes to go and vote. If you can't be bothered to do that then chances are you wouldn't bother to post your postal one either. It is so open to fraud and there is no way of knowing if your vote ever got there.
Heidi, Oxon, UK

I think the theory of posting is good, but it needs to be tightened up Sally, Colchester, UK

If you're concerned about posting the ballot paper, take it to your local polling station on the day of the election or hand it in to your town hall personally and you'll avoid your vote going missing. I think the theory of posting is good, but it needs to be tightened up or perhaps allow us to vote at the weekend when it would be easier for the majority of us to turn up in person.
Sally, Colchester, UK

The only people who should be allowed postal votes are the infirm, military personnel or students away from their home constituency who would find it difficult to get to their local polling station. Student pigeon holes should never be blanket bombed with poll cards for their university constituency. This is an invitation for fraud as they will already be registered in their home constituency, or if not, won't actually be eligible to vote at all.
Julie, Cambridge

There is no need for your question; a judge has ruled that the postal voting system is an invitation to fraud. With modern technology I fail to see why a citizen cannot vote anywhere in the country by simply arriving at a voting station, with some valid ID and voting for the candidates in their registered area. Those persons housebound or infirmed can have postal vote with a doctor's certificate. Those out of the country or on holiday tough. Keep it simple, but get rid of the fraud or the chance of it.
Mike Hall, Kingham, UK

Large scale postal voting to my mind is obviously open to abuse Brian Edwards, Sydney, Australia

Large scale postal voting to my mind is obviously open to abuse so its use should be limited to those individuals who specifically request it.
Brian Edwards, Sydney, Australia

How many ballot papers am I supposed to have? I received the parliamentary vote, but was told that I was meant to have a vote locally and in the European vote. I only received the one ballot and that came to me last week. I have since been told that I should have been sent three. So yes, I believe if that is the case my vote is being tampered with.
Rachel, Norwich, Norfolk

I requested a postal vote last year and it arrived four days after the election therefore I was not allowed to vote. If postal votes are to be used they either require a more reliable delivery method or a longer time limit for return.
Vicky, London

I think the postal vote scheme should be completely re-organised. If other countries can have postal voting without serious problems, why can't we? Surely the British government (of whatever persuasion) can sort it out!
W Tranter, Harbury, Warwickshire, England

I opted for a postal vote and would be loath to change back. I have had no problems and I doubt my daughter would vote if she had to attend a polling station. Why is there such a rush to declare? If we took a fortnight and put remedies in place for checking honest errors and fraud, what would we really be losing by moving to more postal voting?
C A Cheeseman, Great Yarmouth

The problem with postal voting is that there is no confirmation that your vote has been counted Nick B, York

The problem with postal voting is that there is no confirmation that your vote has been counted. For all I know the postman has sifted through all the votes and discarded the ones he doesn't like.
Nick B, York

As with many people in the UK today, I work abroad extensively. Without a postal vote I'd be disenfranchised. I am more concerned how late the postal votes have been sent out - if I hadn't had been back for this weekend I'd have lost my vote.
Jeremy, Alton, Hampshire

Last time we voted the only way we could vote was by post. I object to this. As a mother with six children and a full time nurse, I still manage to make time to vote. This is a very important issue and if you cannot make the effort then what does that say about the society we live in? Women fought long and hard to be able to vote, so I will use my vote.
Sandra Robinson, Manchester

I have always regarded the postal vote as open to fraud. In my younger days those who could not make it to the polling booths were called for and taken there by party members. Why isn't this still done? After the Birmingham fiasco, the extra unknown voters to addresses, and the Wyre shambles, why is it still allowed to go ahead?
Hannah McKinley, Liverpool, England

Virtually every other democracy allows overseas voters to vote at their nearest Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. However UK citizens overseas can't and have to appoint a proxy to vote for them. I think we should go back to the old system of only allowing postal votes on a doctor or employer signing the application to verify you can't attend a polling station. The present system is obviously open to fraud.
Jon (overseas voter), Bangkok

Yes. Just for the fun of it, I looked up on the eBay to see if anyone was selling their postal votes. Found one person who was looking to exchange a vote in another area. Surely, this is illegal?
Viv, London

How can postal voting be fair when I will be able to vote two times and get away with it? Kane Simons, UK

I am a student, and in fear of not being registered where I live for university, applied for a postal vote back home. Now it seems I am registered twice. How can postal voting be fair when I will be able to vote two times and get away with it?
Kane Simons, UK

Of course the system is open to fraud - we already have proof of that. It would seem to me that the only reason the current government are so intent on keeping this seriously flawed system is that they are relying on the fraud taking place. So munch for our fair and democratic system!
Paul, London

Our ballot papers are to be returned in envelopes so thin anyone can see how you voted, thereby, in my mind, negating the whole process (with regard to confidentiality). I have informed our deputy returning officer, who said she would look into it, but didn't really think it was a problem.
Jeannette Richardson, King's Lynn, Norfolk

I applied (and filled in yesterday) a postal vote because I am working on a client site on the other side of the country. I was amazed there was absolutely no witness restriction. They should at least restrict the witness to a respected professional like they do with shotgun or rifle licences. Perhaps only a police officer could witness postal votes. This might encourage the bobbies to get back on the streets where they belong!
Giles, Wiltshire, England

I've received two identical postal ballot papers for me to vote with. How many other people has this happened to?
Laura, London

My friend is 17 years old and registered for a postal vote for all forthcoming elections for the next few years. This morning he received a postal vote two months before his birthday for the 5 May general election. And Labour wonder why people's confidence has been shattered in postal voting?
David Jupp, Sutton Coldfield, UK

I am acting as a proxy postal voter and got sent voting papers from two neighbouring constituencies. I could just be dishonest and vote twice, but I spoke to the elections officer and they said just ignore the incorrect papers. Is this an isolated incident or more evidence of the failure of the postal voting system?
Steve, Ipswich, UK

I am another Flintshire voter whose postal vote envelope wasn't sealed correctly Liam Edgeley, Holywell, Flintshire

I am another Flintshire voter whose postal vote envelope wasn't sealed correctly. I ended up gluing it shut, but this sort of thing shouldn't really be happening. How hard is it for the council to purchase envelopes that have been made correctly?
Liam Edgeley, Holywell, Flintshire

I'm 22, a student, a member of the supposedly apathetic ranks. However I feel strongly about voting. I applied for a postal vote being unable to get to the polling station on 5 May. The form never turned up and I'm told that its now too late to correct the mistake. Disenfranchised doesn't describe it, I'm angry!
Ken Hayes, St Albans, UK

The party which has introduced corruption into the electoral process is unfit to hold office. Welcome to Blair's banana republic of Britain.
Graeme, Canterbury

Surely the whole point of voting in private is that - to vote in private. Not to be coerced in any way by other members of your family or friends. Going to a private cube in a voting booth ensures this. Postal voting should be only for those who cannot get to a voting booth. It may help by increasing the time that they are open, perhaps for a 24hr period.
Alan Novak, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

The committing of voting fraud should be an act of treason Ed Hodd, Dronfield, England

The committing of voting fraud should be an act of treason. It is breach of trust of the highest order.
Ed Hodd, Dronfield, England

Postal vote fraud was widespread in the last council and European elections. It was only in Birmingham that the police have secured convictions. Tony Blair is so desperate to remain in power that he is prepared to ignore this widespread fraud. Where fraud is proven the election result should be declared invalid, and the poll taken again.
Barry Taylor, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Postal votes for expats working abroad are not being sent out until it is going to be far too late for us to participate. They are being released this week I believe by HCC, but we will not get ours until it is too late for us to be able to return it in time for it to be counted. So this is democracy and fairness?
Paul Barrow, Hampshire, UK and Seattle, USA

As a serviceman, this is the only way my wife and I can vote. Over 30 years service, I have only cast one vote in a booth.
Gavin, Hull, UK

If you want democracy then surely able-bodied people can get to a polling station once every few years.
Bob Atherton, Barnsley

Speaking as a postman who was delivering this morning, it seems some electoral registration officers are sending out postal votes by recorded delivery. Whichever way you look at it it's a boost to security.
Brian, Dunfermline, Fife

Like any new system there will always be teething problems Nick, London

Like any new system there will always be teething problems, however these problems are very much isolated. Much of the hysteria being generated across the country comes from an overzealous media campaign determined to stir up a general air of panic within the population and have a knock on effect on the election and its outcome (and no, I am not a Labour supporter).
Nick, London

I moved out of my parents' house in September 2004, and have been living in a village ten miles away. I have been given a voting card at my present address which I will use, but I've also been sent two postal ballots to my parents address. Supposedly I have three votes! An indictment that this could be used fraudulently surely.
Chris, Leicester

As a serviceman, this is the only way my wife and I can vote. Over 30 years service I have only cast one vote in a booth.
Gavin , Hull

If you want democracy then surely able bodied people can get to a polling station once every few years.
Bob Atherton, Barnsley

Like any new system there will always be teething problems, however these problems are very much isolated. Much of the hysteria being generated across the country comes form an overzealous media campaign determined to stir up general air panic within a the population and have a knock on effect on the election and its outcome (and no I am not a Labour supporter).
Nick, London

I voted by post for the first time today. Long working hours, lots of deadlines and poling stations being god-knows-where near me made me realise that it would be the best option. So far I've had no problems and posted my vote of yesterday without a hitch.
Sharon, London

Elections should be held on Sundays and people should go to the polling station John, France

Elections should be held on Sundays and people should go to the polling station. Postal voting for anybody other than the forces or diplomats and so on should be scrapped.
John, France

Obviously: there have been criminal convictions over it, and the sudden increase in applications in marginal constituencies seems like a recipe for disaster to me. What if we have a hung parliament and there are doubts about the legitimacy of a number of marginals?
John, England

Surely in a system where you do not have to produce your polling card to vote and do not need to proffer any other form of ID, the voting system in its entirety is open to manipulation. Postal votes allow those that would otherwise struggle to exercise their democratic right to vote and I feel it is unfair to put those people in doubt of the security of their vote.
Joel Greig, Hastings

The postal voting system is not only open to fraud, but relies on our postal service (enough said). A properly designed secure online voting system would be more reliable. Lazy voters who can't be bothered to get off the couch could vote from their armchairs, without the need for the arduous trek to the postbox or polling station. Why does the government persist with Victorian technology in the 21st century?
Harry Lee, London

Postal voting undermines the principle of a secret ballot Nick Gotts, Aberdeen, Scotland

Postal voting undermines the principle of a secret ballot, and should be available only for those completely unable to reach the polling station. The main point of having a secret ballot is that voters cannot be bribed or bullied into voting a particular way, as there is no way they can prove to the potential bribe giver or bully that they did as they said they would.
Nick Gotts, Aberdeen, Scotland

Of course it is, hasn't this already been proved by actual incidents? With underage voters being sent polling cards (reported on this website) it's not much of a leap for the local authorities to print off postal votes for these children and rig them a certain way.
Rob, Aldershot, England

When I lived in England, I had a postal vote the papers for which arrived a day after the election. On Election Day itself, I went to the polling station and was advised that I could not vote that way as opting for a postal vote precluded me from voting in the usual way. I therefore concluded that postal votes were a way of disenfranchising voters and would never take one out again.
Gerry, Macau, China

Whatever helps to increase turnout is good, but nothing is perfect. Labour introducing it is a master stoke. At long last in this country people who are lazy (benefit claimants usually) can vote to keep out the Conservatives. Now they have no excuse's, it's only another from to fill in. I hope many do and for New Labour.
Steven, UK

Postal voting is an invitation to fraud, organised as it currently is. People should apply for it individually and leave sufficient records and information with the electoral office that it will be easy to spot any attempted fraud. The envelopes should be plain, and not sent via any partisan addresses. At present the system is a joke!
Stuart Prince, Bristol, UK

My main issue is that I don't know if my vote is received and counted Mark Redhead, Guildford, Surrey

My main issue is that I don't know if my vote is received and counted, at least in a polling station I know my vote went into the ballot box.
Mark Redhead, Guildford, Surrey

I am housebound, so unable to get to a polling station, the only way I can vote is by postal vote. If postal voting is scrapped then I will not get my say. I am sure there are many others in the same situation as me. The number of people committing fraud through postal voting is probably very few, but as usual the minority has to spoil it for the majority!
Jane, Leeds, UK

Postal voting says it all. There are so many lazy people in this country (the ones who don't deserve benefits usually). If you can't be bothered to walk/drive to a polling station then you shouldn't be allowed to vote. The only exception would be for the disabled or elderly who are not able to get there.
Lou, Lowestoft

I have always had a postal vote as I feel that it is my way to vote for who I want. I would not change it for anything. I believe that it is safe.
Gordon, Ladywood, Birmingham

After umpteen forms and many stamps, I have now ended up with postal votes in both Cambridge (my new home) and my old borough in the North West. If I wanted to abuse the system then I could simply fill in both forms and post them to the respective county councils, and I'm sure no one would be any the wiser - what an embarrassment for the government!
Anonymous, Cambridge

There may well be many angry people come polling day who find out that their vote has been stolen through electoral fraud.
Ian, Baildon, UK

Surely anything that encourages everyone to vote is a good idea Steve, Cambridge UK

Surely anything that encourages everyone to vote is a good idea, although I must admit having voted by post myself I thought there would have been more precautions to prevent it.
Steve, Cambridge UK

Postal voting encourages people to vote, people who might not have voted otherwise and the opportunity to vote by post has became easier therefore people will pick up on this.
Mrs Hamilton No, Elgin, Scotland

The fraud in Birmingham was caused by those acting for the councillors being actively involved in the process including collecting ballot envelopes from voters. If electors seal them up and pop them in the post direct to the Returning Officer then most of the risk will be removed.
Jim Kirk, Basildon, UK

Of course it's open to fraud. Everyone knows it because it's been proven in a court of law. If the government chose to do nothing then we should view anyone elected in an area with high postal voting as being very suspicious indeed. There is no practical need for high numbers of postal voting, unless it's being manipulated for political purposes!
MG, Liverpool

My girlfriend and I have both registered to vote by post. When we got our voting cards through the post a couple of days ago, my girlfriend's card already had a black mark in the Labour box. It wasn't a pen mark but something that had obviously happened in the printing process. She's now returned the form for another one but how many people haven't? And how will that mark be perceived if you vote for one of the other candidates?
Graham Clarke, Leeds, England

With up to 6 million postal votes applied for of course it is open to fraud. No system is absolutely secure but turning up at a polling station is more likely to stop fraud.
Adrian Cannon, Edinburgh, Scotland

The system is apparently not secure as recent sad events in Birmingham have proved Andy Bird, Cheshire, UK

The system is apparently not secure as recent sad events in Birmingham have proved. What is unknown is the scale of the problem and what can/will be done about it. I favour an online voting system that enables votes to be traced to individuals and vice versa. People would be able to log in and view their vote details on a secure server (proof that it hasn't changed).
Andy Bird, Cheshire, UK

Postal voting is completely open to fraud. I'm not registered at my new address but a former tenant - an Australian national is apparently eligible to vote.
Paul Scargill, London

It's a bit weak to say that you have to work late, or have commitments on a Thursday. We're talking about spending 20 minutes, maybe an hour, once every four years for what is meant to be the highest expression of popular rule in the worlds first, and arguably best, constitutional democracy.
Michael, Durham

Not only is it open to fraud but it also takes away the fact that your vote is anonymous. Just what will governments do with that information? The simplest way to encourage voting would be to move it from a Thursday and have an election weekend - 2 days for people to vote at their leisure.
Barry, England

With the recent rounds of Post Office cuts it's now easier to walk to our nearest Polling Place than to our nearest post box.
Candy Spillard, York

I think the only truly secure system would be for everyone to vote in person at a polling station with at least photographic proof of identity.
Alex No, London

We both work full-time. We have two children, under school age. My wife has evening commitments on a Thursday, so we have a choice: postal vote, don't vote or pay a babysitter so we can go to the polling station. We opted for the postal vote. If politicians want to encourage people to vote, they have to make it easy for us to do so.
Matthew Rowe, Bath, Somerset

In person, by proxy or by post. They can all lead to fraud Trevor, Colchester, UK

In person, by proxy or by post. They can all lead to fraud. There is however one surety. It's a politician that's going to win...
Trevor, Colchester, UK

More to the point, is electoral fraud a bad thing? It's the 10% of eligible voters who are interested and informed who are likely to commit electoral fraud because the outcome matters to them. They are better informed and genuinely motivated, so in a roundabout way they are likely to produce a better result than you would get from either the 40% of the population who vote from habit, or the 50% who won't vote at all. Ideally votes would be fully transferable and traded in the open market. This would provide a good income stream for the poor, and also stop them from voting for higher taxes and regulations which keep them poor
Alex, London

Postal voting is no more an invitation to fraud than displaying goods is an invitation to theft. The risk of any fraud being discovered and destroying the reputation of an individual and a party make fraud unlikely in the extreme.
Richard, Cannock, Staffs

All elections are open to fraud whether you vote by post or in person Andrew, Wells

Let's face it, all elections are open to fraud whether you vote by post or in person. Like British Rail, the Tories and Lib Dems are readying themselves for defeat when we'll hear all about ' the wrong type of votes'. Does anyone remember the 1980s when Thatcher sent her foot soldiers in their dozens to the Spanish Costa's and other far flung places to sign up ex pats to vote? I am sure they were Tory voters by and large.
Andrew, Wells

Of course it's open to fraud. Remember these six candidates who rigged an election in Birmingham. Needless to say they were Labour candidates.
Neil, Skye, Scotland

I think everyone who is worried about their vote being stolen, should telephone their electoral registration officer to check that it is safe. This will create such a lot of work that surely something will then be done.
Daphne Massey, West Midlands

If postal voting for every elector was not going to deliver an advantage to the Labour Party, the Labour government would not have introduced it.
Patricia Wilcock, St Helens, Merseyside

It is an absolute disgrace that Labour are going ahead with postal voting for everyone after the recent vote-rigging scandal in Birmingham. What is the point any of us voting if the vote-rigging is going to spread among many marginal constituencies at this election?
Richard Robinson, Colchester, England

One way of reducing fraud would be for the ballot paper to be carbon copied, with the voter being obliged to retain the copy for say six months. If any doubt is cast over the part sent in then it could be checked against the copy. It would also help if a small proportion of postal votes were checked at random - the voters' copies would simplify this task.
G J Robinson, Reading, Berks, UK

We cannot allow a system open to fraud to be used Julie Barrie, Towcester, Northamptonshire

This must be sorted before the election; we cannot allow a system open to fraud to be used. We should be encouraged to go to Polling Stations. Only those unable to physically get to a Polling Station should be allowed a postal vote. Perhaps we should consider more Polling Stations before continuing with postal votes.
Julie Barrie, Towcester, Northamptonshire

Voting in a polling station is not fraud-proof, as has been demonstrated in Northern Ireland ("vote early and vote often"). It is a system based on trust. We need the postal vote option for those who cannot get to a polling station, but we also need to consider tightening up identity checks. We shouldn't be too critical of Ukraine or Zimbabwe in the meantime!
Geoff Kerr, Todmorden, UK

A few years back, my grandmother lived in an OAP home owned by a Tory councillor. She didn't even know what day of the week it was, yet she still managed to apply for, and use a postal vote. When my father saw the application form, they hadn't even spelled her name correctly. After she died, and there couldn't be any repercussions for her, I wrote to her local (Labour) MP who never bothered to write back. I assume that he either didn't believe me or he felt that the practice was so widespread that one party's fraud must cancel out another.
Catherine, UK

Perhaps the day of a general election should be declared a public holiday? David, Cambridge

This is somewhat of a concern to me as I am a postal voter. The reason that I vote by post is that I have to commute a long distance to where I work therefore the only way in which I could vote on the day would be by taking the day off work. Perhaps the day of a general election should be declared a public holiday? One day in 4 or 5 years shouldn't be too much of a hardship for the employers.
David, Cambridge, UK

Why are the Labour councillors found guilty of electoral fraud not in prison? Labour would have spun themselves into the ground had it been Conservative councillors. However we need postal votes for away workers, people actually working in polling stations outside of their areas etc
Jim Kirk, Basildon, UK

The election is about candidates not about parties. Each voter is voting for the candidate in their own area. They are not voting for a party. I believe people forget this fact. I'm not sure who is standing here so I don't know who I will vote for until they tell me their personal views. If a large proportion of the Labour party were to switch parties after the election, the party in office would change and the electorate would have voted one party in but now another was in office. Postal Voting makes this worse, because people don't know about the local issues in the area where they are voting. The only way to boost turnout is to have the election on a public holiday, not on a Thursday. Why can't we all have the day off on May 5th anyway?
Peter Childs, Stroud, Kent

I don't think that people need to worry too much about postal voting being open to fraud. What they need to worry about more is party manifestos being open to fraud!!
Terry, Peterborough, UK

Postal voting is essential to those who cannot get to a polling station Alan, Chichester, UK

Postal voting is essential to those who cannot get to a polling station, but should be restricted to only those people. It was clearly introduced by a government who saw voter apathy as a threat to them but, as with most legislation introduced by the Labour government, was introduced in a half-baked manner. As a result, in its current form it is wide open to fraud and discredits the UK voting system.
Alan, Chichester, UK

What scares me most about this recent voting fraud case is the response from the government. I am shocked that they wanted to brush this under the carpet until after the coming election. This should have been a priority above fox hunting which was simply a political move to placate the Labour backbenchers. This along with Iraq etc should allow the public to vote 'no confidence' in the incumbent regime.
Matt, Chelmsford

Yet another problem where we treat the symptom instead of the cause! This investigation has highlighted serious issues with the security, or lack of it, of postal voting. The current system is open to abuse and fraud, meaning that all election results where a large number of postal votes are received will be called into question. Let's not end up like the US; with courts deciding the outcome instead of the public.
Howard, London, UK

As a political party has now successfully abused the postal voting system, it should now be withdrawn until a secure system is available. This is especially important in marginal constituencies.
Trevor Robinson, Bishopsteignton, Devon

With the recent events in the Midlands over postal vote rigging it is clear that it is not safe and should be halted!
Karl, London

I think that with this postal voting there is a very high risk of fraud
Lisa, Liverpool, UK

If people cannot be bothered to get themselves to a polling station once every 5 years then they should forfeit the right to vote. Postal voting is, and always will be, too open to abuse. Obviously I exclude people who really can't get out to vote but they are a minority. Lets not make voting too easy for those who are not interested anyway.
Dave, Sheffield, UK

We should go back to the days when you had to have a good reason to be treated as an absent voter Paul J, Kingston, UK

Postal votes are now far too freely available and are very vulnerable to abuse on an industrial scale. We saw this in Birmingham and that was probably just the tip of the iceberg. A shadow of suspicion hangs over all the elections last June where postal votes were in the majority of the only ones allowed to be cast. We should go back to the days when you had to have a good reason to be treated as an absent voter and being too lazy to go to the polling station wasn't an acceptable one.
Paul J, Kingston, UK

I live in a block of flats with a communal entrance and a single letterbox. At the local elections last year, which were all postal voting, I could have had access to at least 4 lots of voting papers delivered to residents who had moved since the electoral register was compiled. Instead of a five minute walk to the polling station where my name would be checked against the register and I could actually see my ballot placed in a secure ballot box I had to fill in numerous forms, walk to the nearest letter box (further than my polling station!) and then have absolutely no idea whether my vote had been received or counted.
Pat Oddy, Yarm, England

Without any postal vote, you disenfranchise thousands of people who are unable to leave their homes or unable to access polling booths because of illness or impairments. Whether opening it up to everyone is a good idea or not is another matter, but some of us need a postal vote in order to exercise our most basic democratic right.
DHK, UK

I am shocked and appalled at the news of this election fraud and its implications. I believe the May 5th election should be postponed until there is surety that any such potential for fraud has been thoroughly investigated by impartial election observers.
Stuart Laver, Leeds, West Yorkshire

There are much more serious instances of undemocratic practice in our system Edwood, Malvern, UK

Postal voting is convenient and no more open to rigging than any other method. It is usually very obvious when a vote has been rigged and enquiries, if not convictions, usually ensure it does not happen in the same place twice. There are much more serious instances of undemocratic practice in our system (lack of proportional representation, the corrupt party "Whipping" system etc) that need much more urgent attention than this.
Edwood, Malvern, UK

Postal voting is obviously open to fraud. The only people who should be given postal votes are those who are physically incapable of going to the polling station. I don't see why the integrity of the electoral system should be put into question for the sake of some lazy people.
James, UK

As has been proven postal voting is inherently flawed, although more convenient. There is no proof that your vote has not been tampered with nor that other people have not intercepted votes of non-voters.
Jon, Leigh, Lancs

Pretty well any sort of voting except turning up in person is wide open to fraud and even that is open to abuse given that there is no formal ID check at the voting point. I would rather have lower turnouts with reliable answers than have 110% voting courtesy of postal votes.
Dave, Cambridge, UK

There WAS fraud in this area during the elections of May last year. Those involved would cry racism if challenged, therefore they got away with it! It should also be known that those involved betrayed the trust of their own community.
Steve Costello, Blackburn, England

The only fair ballot is a secret ballot in the ballot box M Hall, Worksop, UK

The only fair ballot is a secret ballot in the ballot box. Postal voting is inspired by less than democratic traditions of the EU. You have been warned!
M Hall, Worksop, UK

I would like to know why the Labour Party phoned me and asked if I was voting by post and who I would be voting for. I told him it was nothing to do with him. I will be voting as I always vote - I don't want to be pushed.
Mr G Barker, Crawley , West Sussex

How typical of this government to tinker ineptly with a trusted process, leaving behind apprehension, concern and distrust in its wake. I'm sure the government's response will be to fine postmen £80 (on the spot) for each postal vote that is not delivered to its legitimate user!
WLM, London,

How lucky is Labour - this is a huge and damaging story but it comes out just after the Pope dies and when there's a Royal wedding on. The Tories must be gutted!
Matt Ball, London, England

I believe that our elections are largely honest contests between hard-working candidates Julian Ware-Lane, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England

I have had a postal vote for over ten years, largely due to work commitments, but also because of a busy life. Postal voting is very useful for people like me, and for the infirm. Let's not forget that fraud by impersonation is not that difficult either. With the exception of what went on in Birmingham last year I believe that our elections are largely honest contests between hard-working candidates. One reform I would like to see is polling day moved from Thursdays to the weekend.
Julian Ware-Lane, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England

I think this will be a desperate and dirty election. When candidates could win by just a few votes, postal votes may well decide who is the next Prime Minister.
Nathan Hobbs, Luton, UK

There is NO security in the "system". If my vote has been stolen, I will only know when I arrive at the polling station, and the fraudster's ballot will count, while I will be unable to cast a ballot.
BF, London, UK

Postal voting is designed to get around the problem people have with getting to the polling booths... why not just hold the election on a Saturday???
Nathan Hobbs, Luton, UK

There could hardly be a more serious matter for democracy John Wood, Cromarty, Scotland

There could hardly be a more serious matter for democracy. If people lose faith in the fairness of the elections it undermines the government's legitimacy and the whole democratic system.
John Wood, Cromarty, Scotland

I am seriously concerned because of the number of parliamentary seats which have very small majorities and could be targets for fraud! I personally commute 200 miles daily as an IT contractor and if I can do it and vote, so can the rest of the public. The only people who should be using postal voting are the ill and the Overseas Armed Forces. There is such a thing as proxy voting as well.
Bruce V Fox, Bournemouth, Dorset

Whilst I agree that there is a potential for fraud with postal voting, I still think it is a necessity. I, myself, always vote by post, as I am rarely able to attend a polling station. This year, for example, I will be on holiday during the election, but still want to be able to vote.
Jo Hammett, Carshalton, Surrey

Our area had postal votes for the last local elections. It may increase voter turnout, but I have concerns. The envelopes are easily recognised on their way out to the voters, and on the way back in. I also have concerns that anyone can sign as witness to the voter's signature, family member, friend, six-year old son, care home worker with an agenda. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Why don't we scrap the postal vote, and have elections on Sundays like the majority of Europe?
Claire, UK