'Your vote is yours alone': Voter fraud advice ahead of local elections
Hackney Council is reminding all residents that ‘your vote is yours alone’ ahead of the local and mayoral elections next week.
Residents will take to polling stations in Hackney on Thursday 5 May in order to vote for the Mayor of Hackney and for local councillors.
It is illegal for anyone to influence you to vote against your will - whether at a polling station, by post, or via a proxy. This is known as voter fraud.
Voter fraud can take many different forms. No one, not even a partner or family member, is allowed to:
- Pressure you into voting a certain way
- Offer you something in exchange for your vote
- Pretend to be you at the polling station
- Complete your postal vote for you.
In any election, there is a potential for electoral fraud. There is no evidence that electoral fraud is a particular issue in Hackney, but it’s nevertheless something we take extremely seriously in order to preserve our tradition of free and fair elections.
What constitutes electoral fraud is not always well understood by residents. For example, some people may not think that interfering with a relative’s vote could be a criminal offence, but it is important residents know that their vote is theirs alone.
No one should ever feel pressured to vote a certain way. While proven cases of electoral fraud are rare, it remains a serious crime and those who commit it can be imprisoned.
If someone tries to take your vote, or the vote of anyone you know, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111 or visit: crimestoppers-uk.org