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Electoral fraud

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

Report electoral fraud

If you have evidence that electoral fraud has been committed report it to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org – 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 using our Electoral Malpractice Reporting Form.

Electoral Malpractice Reporting Form

You should return this to the Elections Office, who will then pass it onto West Midlands Police for investigation.

What is election fraud?

Friends and family: is it OK..?

  • YES friends and family can discuss how they will vote and their reasons for voting
  • YES other people can give you their opinion on how they think you should vote
  • YES you can ask for help to get to the polling station
  • YES if you have a disability – and 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
  • NO one can force you to vote in a particular way or stop you from voting
  • NO one can take your postal ballot paper away from you, watch you complete it or ask to see it when you have completed it
  • NO one can 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: is it OK..?

  • YES campaigners can explain their party or candidate’s policies to you
  • YES they can encourage you to vote for their party or candidate
  • YES they can encourage you not to vote for another party’s or candidate
  • YES they can explain how the electoral registration or voting process works, including how to vote by post
  • YES they can provide you with an electoral registration form or an application form for a proxy or postal vote and explain how to fill it in
  • NO one can force you to vote in a particular way or stop you from voting
  • NO one can offer to reward you for voting for them (with money, food, gifts, a job)
  • NO one can get in the way or stop you from getting into the polling station to vote

This video by the Electoral Commission explains the rights and wrongs of electoral voting and campaigning. The video is available in English, Urdu, Gujarati and Punjabi.


Page last updated: 21 September 2023

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