Electoral Fraud (Hansard, 10 May 1993)

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about how many votes were lost to their lawful recipients through electoral fraud in total in 1992; what percentage of these were due to misuse of proxy votes; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Information about the number of voting offences is not collected centrally.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to review the format of the absent voter forms to prevent fraud by misappropriation of proxy votes; and what systems are in place to monitor the number of people claiming proxy votes in elections; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many voters by constituency voted by proxy in each of the last three general elections; and in each case what percentage difference this represented from 1979.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Information about the number of proxy voters is not collected centrally. Changes to absent voting applications forms are being considered by a working group of electoral registration officers and Home Office officials as part of our post-election review.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to increase the penalties for electoral fraud where the offence involves the deprivation of the vote to an elector who by reason of age, disability, language difficulties or other reason is particularly vulnerable to such fraud.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Penalties for election offences are set out in the Representation of the People Acts 1983 and 1985. We have no plans for any change.

§ Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to investigate possible electoral fraud regarding proxy votes in Brighton; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
I understand that the electoral registration officer in Brighton has investigated a number of complaints relating to proxy voting applications. One case was referred to the police who have decided that there was no evidence of any fraud.