28-10-03

Barrett warning on all-postal ballots

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today warned the Government about holding an all-postal ballot in Scotland for the 2004 European Parliamentary elections.

The Government are currently taking the European Parliamentary Elections (Pilot) Bill through the House of Commons, which would allow for all postal ballots to be held next year.  It is expected that a postal ballot will be held in Scotland, the only European Parliamentary region in the UK without local elections on the same day.

However, speaking during Questions to the Constitutional Affairs Minister in the House of Commons, Mr Barrett warned that concerns over the security of ballot papers would have to be addressed before a postal ballot could be considered.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"If the Government proceeds with an all postal ballot in Scotland next year, it will be the largest of its kind ever held in the UK.  However, many of the security concerns which have arisen from previous, smaller pilots have still not been adequately addressed.

"Not only do all-postal ballots deny electors the privacy of the polling booth but police in some of those areas where all postal ballots have been held warned that trust in those elections were eroded though cases of malpractice.

"Voters in Scotland must be able to have faith and trust in the process and the eventual result in the election of their MEPs.  The Government must take all steps to ensure there is adequate safeguards to prevent the opportunity for malpractice if a postal ballot gets the go ahead."

ENDS