Warning over anti-fraud measures for next election

Published on Monday 26 October 2009 20:33

MEASURES aimed at preventing fraud at polling stations must be improved before the next General Election.

A report by the Electoral Commission into June's Euro elections reveals that one in five returning officers were failing to meet standards.

A total of 73 local officers missed their targets for "identifying and managing the risk of electoral malpractice".

Most fell short because they had no formal written plans in place to tackle the issue.

The commission warned that urgent action was required to prepare properly for the next Westminster poll, which must be held by June of next year.

And a checklist of measures has been sent to town halls with a directive that they should be in place for the election.

Jenny Watson, chair of the Electoral Commission, said: "I'm very glad that the June 2009 elections were, on the whole, a success. But a General Election is different. It needs to be organised in a much shorter period of time.

It also poses more challenges than those elections held this summer and there is no room for complacency."