Question

To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Committee is taking to tackle voter fraud.

The Commission has recommended since 2014 that an accessible proof of identity scheme should be developed and implemented for polling station voters in Great Britain. This would address the current absence of effective checks against personation and improve public confidence. The Commission notes that the Government has stated its intention to bring forward legislation during the current Parliament, to ensure that a form of identification must be presented before voting.

Prior to the general election on 8 June, the Commission produced detailed guidance to help (Acting) Returning Officers and police forces to put in place plans to prevent and detect electoral fraud. The Commission also continued its successful partnership with Crime Stoppers, the anonymous crime reporting charity, to make sure people could report concerns about electoral fraud.