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Written Question
Absent Voting: Fraud
Thursday 20th June 2019

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to prevent postal vote electoral fraud.

Answered by Kevin Foster

Electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. There are already measures in place designed to enhance the security of postal voting. In response to the Pickles report on electoral fraud, the Government accepted recommendations to strengthen the postal vote system and, in line with our manifesto commitment, we are working to reform postal voting to ensure our elections are secure.

Cabinet Office coordinates cross-Government work to protect and secure our democratic processes and ensure those involved in delivering our elections receive cyber, physical and personnel security advice from experts at the National Cyber Security Centre and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 05 Jun 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"5. What plans the Government has to encourage more candidates with disabilities to stand for election. ..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 05 Jun 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I have met many talented students with disabilities in Cheltenham from the National Star College, so I commend my right hon. Friend for removing disability expenses from the electoral spending limits. Surely, that should apply across the United Kingdom. Does he not agree that it should be rolled out to …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"The hon. Gentleman makes the point about extending the franchise and about democracy being a progressive, ongoing process. On that basis, would he rule out extending the franchise to 13-year-olds? What is it about 16 that means it should be the limit? Why not go lower still?..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"Thank you very much for calling me to speak, Mr Howarth. It is a real pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Glasgow East (David Linden). If I may say so at the outset, what a pleasure it is to hear this matter being debated in a responsible and uplifting …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"I will give way to the hon. Gentleman in a moment; let me just develop the point a fraction.

That acknowledgement of the age of majority at 18 is, in fact, reflected across the overwhelming majority of countries that are signatories to the United Nations. We could be forgiven in …..."

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"Of course, they can join the Army, but they are not entitled to serve on the frontline in a way that might put them at risk of losing their life. In some ways, I respectfully suggest that the hon. Lady’s point makes the argument for me. Part of the reason …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"Let me make one last point. Before I came into this place, I spent a lot of time as a barrister, and when I go into schools in my constituency such as Pate’s Grammar School, Balcarras or Bournside and ask, “If you were accused of a crime you had not …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"No, I do not think that. Of course, it is right to recognise that opinion polls do not determine everything that happens in this place, but I would hate for the impression to somehow be given that there is a groundswell of popular support for votes at 16. That is …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Apr 2019
Votes at 16

"There is, and one could take the view that because the position has changed in Scotland, we should reflect that throughout the entire United Kingdom. That is a legitimate argument, but if one takes the view that the decision in Scotland was an aberration, why would we want to continue …..."
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