The issue of election voting integrity has seen much scrutiny over the past week after observers raised 'major concerns' about family voting in last week's Gorton and Denton by-election.

Family voting – where two or more voters either confer or collude to direct each other on voting – was made a criminal offence by the 2023 Ballot Secrecy Act.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating after the election observer group Democracy Volunteers claimed to have witnessed the illegal practice in

68 per cent of 22 polling stations monitored during the poll on Thursday, February 26.

In a statement released after polls closed Democracy Volunteers, which had four volunteers working at the by-election, said: "We have seen concerningly

high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. "Based on our assessment of today's observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK."

In response Manchester council, which oversaw the by-election, criticised the group for not raising concerns with them earlier, adding that no issues

were reported from polling stations on the day.

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On Thursday, May 7, voters will go to the polls in all ten Greater Manchester boroughs to elect councillors.

In the lead up to those elections GMP were asked if they would be changing their policing of polling stations.

A spokesman said: "We will not be changing the way we police the elections.

"It will be the same as we policed at the by election as it was effective and within electoral guidelines."

In the wake of the report issued following the Gorton & Denton by-election by Democracy Volunteers observers, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked each Greater Manchester borough the same question: "In light of the report, what measures, if any, will you be putting in place at polling stations on May 7 to prevent or discourage issues of family voting, more that one person in a polling booth and photographing ballot papers?"

This is how Stockport Council responded:

"Polling station staff in Stockport are fully trained to support voters and ensure everyone is able to cast their vote independently.

"They know what to look out for and will step in if they see anything that doesn't follow the rules.

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"Clear information is displayed in every polling station to remind people of the voting process, and our polling station Inspectors visit our sites throughout the day to make sure everything is running as it should.

"We take the integrity of the election process very seriously and will act on any concerns raised."

By Chris Gee LDRS

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