Warning issued over 'illegal votes' at election
A COUNCILLOR is calling on electoral chiefs to make sure the upcoming election is not marred by "illegal votes."
Seven Kings Cllr Bob Littlewood, deputy leader of the Labour party, believes previous elections have been tainted by complaints about proxy voting - where a voter gets someone else to cast their ballot on their behalf.
Cllr Littlewood said he had been approached by residents in the past who claimed they were persuaded to register for a proxy vote and then either felt under pressure to vote a certain way or later found out the vote had been cast differently to how they wished.
The cllr will raise the issue at Thursday's full council meeting and will demand to know what measures are in place to protect against cheating.
He said: "I shall not be satisfied with any answer that doesn't tell me what preparations are being made.
"If there's a whole load of proxy voters registered, are they going to check on everyone?
"Only when there's been a complaint made do they seem to do anything but there should be measures in place to stop it from happening."
He said there are also fears that desperate candidates and supporters could try to swindle the postal voting system by registering unoccupied houses or former residents.
In 2003, now-shamed Cllr Suresh Kumar was investigated by Special Branch following complaints about discrepancies in proxy votes during the Valentines by-election when he won his council seat.
The former Conservative cllr - who was earlier this year jailed after demanding a bribe from developers who had submitted a planning application to the council - denied the allegations and complaints were withdrawn.
Elections will take place on May 6.
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