Comments on: Postal Voting http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: A C EVANS http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2999 A C EVANS Fri, 20 May 2005 23:31:28 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2999 Dear Sirs, The purpose of the ballot box is so a vote can be cast anonymously. However the idea of a postal vote requires security in which your name and address or any other means of identification will be mandatory. The possibility of government or other authorities being able to have individual information on anyones political sympathies is of course an infringement of peoples private rights in a democratic society. Your response to this point and how privacy will be maintained will be appreciated. Yours faithfully A C Evans. Dear Sirs,
The purpose of the ballot box is so a vote can be cast anonymously. However the idea of a postal vote requires security in which your name and address or any other means of identification will be mandatory. The possibility of government or other authorities being able to have individual information on anyones political sympathies is of course an infringement of peoples private rights in a democratic society.
Your response to this point and how privacy will be maintained will be appreciated.

Yours faithfully

A C Evans.

]]> By: Bruce Dawson http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2962 Bruce Dawson Mon, 18 Apr 2005 17:36:32 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2962 The lack of action on fraud potential in postal votes is doubly hypocritical because John Prescott was clearly told of the many dangers which occurred when the total postal vote system was used in the North-West at the last local elections. To say, as he did last week, that it is too late to do anything simply beggars belief. Do you know that postal votes are not even counted separately before being added to the heap? It would'nt take a mastermind to order returning officers to keep them separate. The arrogance and manipulation of this regime is appalling, and unfortunately the alternative is just as bad.(Now in my 60's, I lived the last 18 years of Conservative government...when it comes to arrogance, you ain't seen nothing yet!) I have actually decided to cast my vote, because too many decent working people from the 18th to mid 20th Centuries gave up their freedom and sometimes their lives to get me that vote. I am however under no illusions....as far as I am concerned all senior politicians of the last 25 years have utterly prostituted the sacrifices these martyrs made. The lack of action on fraud potential in postal votes is doubly hypocritical because John Prescott was clearly told of the many dangers which occurred when the total postal vote system was used in the North-West at the last local elections. To say, as he did last week, that it is too late to do anything simply beggars belief.

Do you know that postal votes are not even counted separately before being added to the heap?
It would’nt take a mastermind to order returning officers to keep them separate.
The arrogance and manipulation of this regime is appalling, and unfortunately the alternative is just as bad.(Now in my 60’s, I lived the last 18 years of Conservative government…when it comes to arrogance, you ain’t seen nothing yet!)
I have actually decided to cast my vote, because too many decent working people from the 18th to mid 20th Centuries gave up their freedom and sometimes their lives to get me that vote. I am however under no illusions….as far as I am concerned all senior politicians of the last 25 years have utterly prostituted the sacrifices these martyrs made.

]]> By: PapaLazzzaru http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2928 PapaLazzzaru Tue, 05 Apr 2005 12:36:48 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/04/04/1574#comment-2928 I don't believe this; we have unequivocal evidence of electoral fraud - and the PMOS is playing word games. Instead of trying to play down the significance of this, the elected guardians of our democracy should be yelling from the rooftops about how our democratic rights are being abused by the very people we have elected to safeguard them. I and many others predicted this very thing when postal voting was introduced - and of course then the government tried to downplay the potential for fraud. Now we know that the predicted fraud did and has and is taking place - and they are STILL trying to downplay the significance. Well here's another prediction. In the general election there will be widespread fraud - and I predict it will be widespread enough in areas to prompt calls for a re-run of the election. Of course, if Labour wins they will dismiss such calls as sour grapes - as they tried to do in Birmingham. The sooner this corrupt regime is ousted, the better for democracy. Sadly, as the Opposition leader said in Zimbabwe, fraudulent votes are rarely cast in favour of the Opposition. I don’t believe this; we have unequivocal evidence of electoral fraud - and the PMOS is playing word games. Instead of trying to play down the significance of this, the elected guardians of our democracy should be yelling from the rooftops about how our democratic rights are being abused by the very people we have elected to safeguard them. I and many others predicted this very thing when postal voting was introduced - and of course then the government tried to downplay the potential for fraud. Now we know that the predicted fraud did and has and is taking place - and they are STILL trying to downplay the significance.

Well here’s another prediction. In the general election there will be widespread fraud - and I predict it will be widespread enough in areas to prompt calls for a re-run of the election. Of course, if Labour wins they will dismiss such calls as sour grapes - as they tried to do in Birmingham.

The sooner this corrupt regime is ousted, the better for democracy. Sadly, as the Opposition leader said in Zimbabwe, fraudulent votes are rarely cast in favour of the Opposition.

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