Forum Brief: Postal votes

The Electoral Commission has recommended that future local council elections should be run as all postal ballots.

The radical suggestion was set out in a report on the alternative voting methods trialled during last May's council elections in England.

Ministers were warned that there is a widespread public perception that the traditional form of voting - marking an "X" on a ballot paper in a polling station - is now "irrelevant and effectively redundant".

A spokeswoman for the ODPM told ePolitix.com: "The government welcomes the Electoral Commission's report as a vital and independent contribution to the electoral modernisation and e-voting programme. We are encouraged that the report supports our general approach to pilots and recognises some of the successes to date.

"The purpose of any pilot is to learn and it is therefore crucial that there is a rigorous examination. The report outlines some concerns and recommendations. We will consider these extremely carefully with local government and other partners before responding in the early autumn."

Forum Response: Electoral Commission

Sam Younger, chairman of the Electoral Commission Chairman, said: 'This year's pilots show that the increased turnout rates delivered by all-postal voting are sustainable, and we congratulate the local authorities involved for their success.

"The pilots also mark a significant step on the way to 'an e-enabled election some time after 2006' but more piloting is needed based on a clear strategic framework."

Forum Response: National Farmers Union

A spokeswoman for the NFU told ePolitix.com: "Due to the dispersed settlement patterns in countryside areas, giving rural residents more options on how they cast their vote is desirable.

"The NFU welcomes the consideration of making greater use of postal ballots to encourage rural residents to exercise their democratic voice."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "This is exceptionally good news for the rural community, coming as it does on the same day that we learn rural railways are to suffer yet more neglect in the coming years, which would undoubtedly have had an impact on the rural turnout at elections, with many isolated rural people finding it hard to make the often long journey to the polling stations.

"Rural people have never asked for special treatment, just parity with the urban majority, and allowing for postal voting does seem to level the playing field on this issue. Or at least it will if the rural postal system is allowed to survive."

Forum Response: The Disabilities Trust

Matt Townsend, spokesman for the Disabilities Trust, told ePolitix.com: "It is to be welcomed that the government is thinking seriously about what other means may be available to increase participation in elections, it is important that people take up their right to vote, something others fought and died for in the past.

"Many voters with a disability have found the usual physical barriers preventing them from exercising their franchise when they have visited their local polling station at election time. Therefore postal or 'e-voting' would give disabled people an alternative way to cast their vote.

"However it is important that choice remains for all voters and that those voters (both disabled and fully abled) who wish to go to the local polling station have the opportunity to do so. The new methods being discussed should supplement, not replace the traditional means of voting."

Forum Response: British Youth Council

Blossom Young, vice chair of the British Youth Council, told ePolitix.com: "We do welcome these measures to bring voting methods up to date, but recognise their limitations. Advances in alternative methods of voting are great, but they do not address the root cause of why lots of young people are turned off by the idea of voting in the first place.

"Young people feel alienated from politics and do not feel part of the process. Changing the technological infrastructure of voting will not narrow the distance that many young people believe exists between politicians and themselves.

"If we really want to improve voter turnout then we need to provide better opportunities for people to engage with politicians on their own terms.

"If we are going to focus on the act of voting in itself then a more radical measure would be introducing votes at 16 showing young people they have a vital role to play as citizens in our society."