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Electoral fraud

Report electoral fraud

If you're on the electoral register, you can vote however you want – not how someone else wants.

If you have evidence that electoral fraud has been committed report it to online at CrimeStoppers or by phone 0800 555111 – you don’t have to give your name.

If you think electoral fraud may have been committed, or you are worried about your vote being used by someone else:

You can also report cases of suspected fraud or any electoral malpractice directly to us via email at [email protected].

It can be confusing about what constitutes fraud, here are some examples

Friends and family

It is OK for

  • friends and family to discuss how they will vote and their reasons for voting
  • other people to give you their opinion on how they think you should vote
  • you to ask for help to get to the polling station
  • you to ask for help if you have a disability, If you get permission from staff at the polling station you can get help with voting under certain circumstances. Staff themselves can also help you. Any family or friends will need to sign a form saying they helped you to vote

It is not OK for anyone

  • to force you to vote in a particular way or stop you from voting
  • to take your postal ballot paper away from you, watch you complete it or ask to see it when you have completed it
  • to cast your vote for you (pretending to be you) – they can’t mark your ballot paper for you or sign on your behalf or cast a vote for you because you are away or ill

Election campaigners

It is OK for campaigners to

  • explain their party or candidate’s policies to you
  • encourage you to vote for their party or candidate
  • encourage you not to vote for another party’s or candidate
  • explain how the electoral registration or voting process works, including how to vote by post

It is not OK for campaigners to

  • provide you with an electoral registration form or an application form for a proxy or postal vote and explain how to fill it in
  • force you to vote in a particular way or stop you from voting
  • offer to reward you for voting for them (with money, food, gifts, a job)
  • get in the way or stop you from getting into the polling station to vote

There are videos on the Electoral Commission website which explains the rights and wrongs of electoral voting and campaigning available in the following languages:

Last updated 25 April 2024