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Greater Manchester Police have informed the BBC that they have not received any reports of electoral misconduct during the recent Gorton and Denton by-election. This announcement follows concerns raised by election observers regarding what they described as notably high levels of family voting at the polling stations. Family voting refers to situations where a family member potentially influences another person’s vote, such as by accompanying them into the voting booth.
These worries were brought to light by Democracy Volunteers, an independent organization that monitors elections to ensure protocols are properly followed. Their director, John Ault, expressed serious alarm after polling ended, stating that the group witnessed the “highest levels of family voting at any election” they have observed in a decade of UK election monitoring. Ault highlighted that, in comparison, family voting appeared in only 12% of polling stations in a recent by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, influencing just 1% of voters. By contrast, their observations at Gorton and Denton noted family voting in 68% of polling locations, affecting 12% of voters observed.
Despite these findings, the acting returning officer for the by-election disputed the claims, emphasizing that no reports of undue influence had been made by polling station staff during voting hours. A spokesperson explained that staff were trained to detect any such behavior, and no instances had been reported throughout the day. They criticized Democracy Volunteers for waiting until after the polls closed to raise their concerns, suggesting that any issues should have been reported immediately so prompt responses could be taken. The by-election hub maintained communication with police, who were stationed at every polling place, to address any incidents that arose.
The Electoral Commission, responsible for overseeing UK elections, acknowledged awareness of the report and reiterated that electoral offences are under police jurisdiction, urging the public to report any suspected violations. Political reactions were mixed: Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the high family voting levels “deeply concerning,” questioning the democratic integrity in predominantly Muslim areas, while Reform chairman David Bull acknowledged the illegal nature of family voting but doubted it altered the election outcome. Meanwhile, the Green Party rejected Reform’s criticisms, labeling them as attempts to delegitimize the electoral result and pointing out their own historic victory in the by-election. Labour Party chair Anna Turley described the reports as “extremely worrying and concerning,” emphasizing the need for evidence and appropriate investigations
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