§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have yet come to a view on the desirability of introducing, in addition to the list of postal votes issued, a register, open to inspection by the public, of electors whose postal votes have been returned. [HL3951]
83WA
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonWe are considering the responses received to our consultation paper on recording the return of postal ballot papers and intend to announce our conclusions shortly.
§ Lord Greavesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their view on the desirability or otherwise of political parties or candidates encouraging electors to apply for postal votes to be sent to a common address, at which they are not residing either permanently or temporarily during the election, such as a party headquarters, a candidate's committee room or the home of a candidate or party officer or known activist; and whether the legislation was intended to allow this to happen; and [HL3952]
Whether returning officers are permitted to exercise discretion over whether to send a ballot paper to an address which is not that of the elector if they have grounds for suspicion that sending a ballot paper to such an address may lead to the fraudulent use of that ballot paper. [HL3953]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for each elector who applies for a postal vote to decide the address to which the voting papers should be sent. We expect electors to choose the address that they consider to be the most convenient and secure for the receipt of the papers. If an electoral registration officer (ERO) or an acting returning officer (ARO) has a suspicion of electoral fraud, it is for them to notify the police. Where an application meets the statutory requirements, it must be accepted, and, where practicable, the ERO will confirm the arrangements by notifying the elector. Once these arrangements are in place, the ARO has no discretion to disregard them.