BNP to put own seals on ballot boxes over fraud fears

The British National Party is so concerned about fraud at the general election that it intends to place its own seals on ballot boxes. The party fears its opponents will seek to sabotage its aim of winning a seat in Parliament for the first time.

So it has invoked the Ballot Act of 1872, which allows candidates to put their own seals on boxes, in an effort to avert tampering. Independent election officials always seal boxes when polls close.

BNP spokesman John Walker said his party would apply its own seals in the London seats of Barking - where leader Nick Griffin is running - and Dagenham and Rainham. The BNP hopes to do well against incumbent Labour MPs in both contests.

Under escort

The party will consider adding its own ballot box seals in other seats such as Burnley. Mr Walker claimed the decision by many councils to delay general election counts until the day after voting meant there would be greater opportunity for someone to tamper with boxes.

Normally they are taken under escort straight from polling stations to be counted on the evening of the vote.

Mr Walker claimed there had been suggestions in the past that boxes had been opened and BNP votes spoiled or removed, or other parties' votes added. He said: "We know it happens. We just cannot prove it. It is a shame we have to invoke these things. But some council staff are in the pocket of the local Labour party and we suspect they would use any means to tamper with votes."

'Perfectly lawful'

The Ballot Act of 1872 states that "the presiding officer of each station, as soon as is practicable after the close of poll, shall, in the presence of the agents of the candidates, make up (the ballot boxes) into separate packages sealed with his own seal and the seals of such agents of the candidates as desire to affix their seals".

The legislation also introduced the secret ballot for parliamentary elections to prevent voter intimidation by employers and landowners.

The right for candidates to add their own seals has survived repeated reforms of election law, currently regulated by the Representation of the People Act. Parties rarely use this right.

John Turner, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, said: "This is perfectly lawful in terms of the Representation of the People Act. But to the best of my knowledge and recollection, no other party does this."

A Labour spokesman said: "We are confident that when the general election comes the British people will clearly reject the disgusting politics of the BNP. That will be because their politics are vile and divisive not because of any bizarre paranoia about ballot boxes."

BBC

BNP member tried to rig election vote

A member of the British National Party who tried to rig votes in local elections held in Cannock is facing jail

Michael Wilding used his friend David Winter’s name to place a vote for the BNP in both the county council and local elections held last June.

He appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of personation at a local/european election by using the name of David Winter. The offence carries a maximum jail sentence of two years.

Mr Simon Orme, prosecuting, said Wilding went to the polling station based at St Barnabas Church Hall, in Mosswood Street, on the afternoon of June 4 to place his vote despite voting in his own name earlier in the day.

Wilding, aged 39, used the name of Mr Winter, whose family he lived with in Hampton Street, to cast a vote for William Ralph Vaughan who was representing the BNP in the Cannock town centre ward in the county councils. He then voted in the European Parliamentary Elections voting BNP despite there not being a candidate standing.

The fraud was discovered when Mr Winter arrived later in the evening at the polling station to place his vote. Wilding, from Trench Road, Cannock, was identified as the culprit by an elections officer.

Mr Neil Gerrity, defending, said Wilding was very sorry for his actions. Speaking after the case Wilding told the Express & Star: “I just don’t know why I did it really. It was very silly.”

Express and Star

Investigation into Darwen BNP candidate

Officials are investigating one candidate in the Darwen Town Council elections after the Lancashire Telegraph told them he was convicted for election fraud four years ago and believed to have been banned from stand-ing in elections.

BNP member Robin Evans pleaded guilty in December 2005 to two counts of forging signatures on a nomination paper for the 2004 Earcroft, Darwen, by-election and was prosecuted under the Representation of the People Act 1983. He completed 60 hours of community service and was reported at the time as being banned from standing in elections for five years. Evans, who is nominated for the Sudell ward, insists he is eligible to stand.

Returning officer Graham Burgess said: “This matter was reported to us and we are looking into it.”

He said he did not want to comment further until the final decision had been reached next week as to whether Mr Evans was allowed to stand.

The Citizen