HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc563-4
43. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)

What reviews the Commission has undertaken into allowing electors to vote at any polling station. [43186]

Mr. A. J. Beith (representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission)

The Commission is examining the matter. It has not undertaken a formal review of the principle of allowing electors to choose any polling station at which to vote, but it has declared its intention to press forward an agenda for making voting easier and more user-friendly. As part of that agenda, it will evaluate several pilot schemes during the May 2002 local elections, including a scheme to allow voters to choose from among a number of polling station locations the one at which they want to vote.

Simon Hughes

If I may link my right hon. Friend's answer to the issue of younger voters, will the commission consider locating polling stations in schools with sixth forms and sixth form centres, and in colleges and universities? If we are to get young people to vote, it is much more likely that they will vote if the voting place is somewhere that they have to go during that day.

Mr. Beith

I shall pass on my hon. Friend's interesting suggestions to the Commission.

Mike Gapes (Ilford, South)

Will the commission also consider electoral abuse at polling stations, and study my Adjournment debate on 4 July last year about intimidation in polling stations in my constituency at the general election? Will it also consider other abuses, including introducing stricter requirements for enforcing the law on leaflets distributed without imprints and those that tell people not to vote for sitting MPs and that are distributed months before the election?

Mr. Beith

The commission has studied the hon. Gentleman's Adjournment debate, as have I, and I believe that he has met or communicated with the chairman of the commission on those matters. Although the commission is not the prosecuting authority in such matters—it is a matter for the police if an offence has been committed—it reviews the effectiveness of the law and whether any changes are required. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman's efforts are being carefully considered.