Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address family voting in (1) general elections, and (2) other elections.

Family voting is illegal under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

While the vast majority of people vote lawfully, any instance of coercion is unacceptable and undermines confidence in our democratic process. We will continue to work with electoral administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure our polls are run smoothly, fairly, and securely. We will also continue to work with the Commission and Crimestoppers on the annual ‘Your Vote is Yours Alone’ campaign, which raises awareness among the electorate of the risks of voter fraud, and how to recognise and tackle it.

Independent Returning Officers are responsible for the conduct of elections and the Electoral Commission provides them with extensive guidance on the administration of elections. This includes guidance on how polling staff should respond if they suspect offences are being committed. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers. The Commission’s performance standards specifically include ensuring polling stations are set up and staff are trained to support voters to vote independently and in secret.