FROM: SKY NEWS 04 May 2010
Police Investigate Postal Vote Fraud Claims
9:47am UK, Tuesday May 04, 2010
Ruth Barnett, Sky News Online
Police are looking into up to 50 allegations of election "irregularities" amid fears bogus names have been used to apply for postal votes.
In marginal seats, just a handful of votes could swing the result
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed 28 allegations have been made in London alone.
It is investigating five cases - four in Tower Hamlets and one in Ealing - and a further 23 claims are being "assessed".
Barking and Dagenham, Lambeth, Westminster, Enfield, Hounslow, Haringey, Ealing, Brent, Bexleyheath, Camden and Redbridge are among the London boroughs under scrunity.
According to the Daily Mail, concerns have also been raised with officers in Yorkshire and Derby.
Thursday's General Election could be the closest in nearly two decades, prompting concerns that electoral fraud in marginal seats could affect the result.
Local authorities have reported a surge in the number of applications for postal votes close to the April 20 deadline which meant not all of the requests could be fully investigated.
The rise could be down to voters feeling more engaged in this year's contest due to the close opinion polls and the televised leaders' debates, but there are fears fake names have been added to the database.
In the east London area of Tower Hamlets, officials received 5,166 new registrations just before the cut-off date and did not have time to check them all, the Daily Mail reports.
Some houses in the area have as many as nine adults registered as living at the address. Journalist Jerome Taylor says he was beaten up by a group of people when he asked locals about voter fraud.
There are two constituencies in Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green and Bow, and Poplar and Limehouse, and both are marginal seats. George Galloway, who was the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, has moved to fight Labour's Jim Fitzpatrick in Poplar and Limehouse.
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