Plea to 'protect your vote' amid electoral fraud claim

THE elections watchdog is warning people to “protect their vote” ahead of the May elections amid concerns about fraud and potential crimes in polling stations.

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The Electoral Commission has stressed that inducing or compelling someone to vote in a particular way can result in a prison sentence, adding raising awareness was needed to keep levels of proven electoral offences low.

The warning follows reports of high levels of family voting during the Gorton and Denton by-election in February.

An investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) found no evidence of the illegal practice, whereby a person enters a polling booth with someone else or otherwise directs their vote, prompting Nigel Farage to claim there had been an “establishment whitewash”.