POSTAL VOTING SYSTEM

Early day motion 29, tabled 17 May 2005 by Oliver Heald (Conservative). Signed by 92 members.

That this House expresses its deep concern at the weaknesses in the postal voting system highlighted by the comment of the judge in the recent Birmingham case that the postal voting system was wide open to fraud; notes that the inaccuracy of electoral registers and the lack of proper checks on them is at the root of the problem; further notes that the tried and tested Northern Ireland system of individual voter registration using National Insurance numbers has led to accurate registers and reduced opportunities for fraud; and calls on the Government to accept the recommendation of the Electoral Commission and other parties and immediately to introduce legislation to effect such a change.

Signatures by party: Conservative 78, Liberal Democrat 5, DUP 3, Labour 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 1.