The Quest for Objectivity

To: Colin Burt
The Electoral Services Office
Town Hall 
Brighton 
BN1 1JA 
Tel : (01273) 291999
electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Dear Colin,

I have a general question about all elections that Electoral Services administers.
I know for a fact that some people, who own multiple properties in Brighton and
Hove, are sent multiple polling cards, and their names appear multiple times on
the electoral register.  What mechanisms are in place to make sure that these
people do not vote more than once?

Sincerely,

Ron Chrisley

From: Colin Burt
Date:  15 June, 2004 15:58:25 BST
Cc: Chris Fossey

Dear Dr. Chrisley,

Although it is not an offence for people to be registered at different
addresses, particularly if they have a considerable degree of permanent
residence at those addresses (e.g. students can quite legitimately register
in their university towns and for their home addresses), it is generally an
offence under the Representation of the People Act 1983 or the European
Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 for a person to vote more than
once in the same area or in the same elections. We do what we can to avoid
multiple registrations of the kind you describe but, without unlimited
resources, it is virtually impossible to guarantee that it does not happen,
or, if it does, to ensure that the people concerned do not vote more than
once. To be perfectly frank, we have a far bigger problem in getting people
to register once than we do in preventing multiple registrations. However,
if you can substantiate your claim that some property owners are registered
many times over for different addresses and, by implication, may have
committed an offence by voting more than once at the recent elections, I
should be very grateful for full details. Alternatively, if you choose to
do so, you can make a complaint directly to the police.

I look forward to receiving further information from you.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Burt
Electoral Services Officer