Court rejects postal voting challenge
An attempt by a Liberal Democrat councillor to launch a High Court challenge to the postal voting system has been rejected.
John Hemming, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council – but acting in a personal capacity – had sought permission to apply for a judicial review of the arrangements for the general election.
He argued that lack of safeguards left the system open to fraud and therefore breached the Human Rights Act by compromising the secret ballot.
But Mr Justice Collins said that Mr Hemming – PPC for Birmingham Yardley – had not been the victim of fraud and it was not enough to make general accusations about fraud.
He added that there would be tremendous pressure on whichever party won the election to tighten up the postal voting arrangements.
