Following Reform UK’s report of alleged family voting in the Gorton and Denton by-election, police have confirmed that there is no evidence to support these claims.
Democracy Volunteers, an election observer group, raised concerns about high levels of family voting during the election, which involves voters conferring or colluding to influence each other’s votes.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, brought forward the allegations of family voting to the authorities after their candidate, Matt Goodwin, came second in the February by-election. However, the Greater Manchester Police stated that their investigation did not find any intent to manipulate or prevent individuals from voting.
Police clarified that the observers did not witness any verbal instructions or physical coercion between voters that would suggest illegal behavior. They also highlighted the lack of detailed descriptions or identities provided by the observers to pursue further investigation.
Despite reviewing CCTV footage from polling stations visited by Democracy Volunteers, authorities found no evidence of individuals directing or pressuring others on how to vote. The police emphasized that there was no indication of any wrongdoing under the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.
The controversy surrounding the allegations of family voting arose on the night of the by-election, prompting a response from election officials, who questioned the timing and validity of the claims made by Democracy Volunteers.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski denounced the accusations, stating that there was no evidence to support them and criticized the media for sensationalizing the issue. He suggested that the focus on these allegations was driven by fear of change within the political landscape.
The police investigation, initiated based on Reform UK’s complaint and Democracy Volunteers’ observations, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims of family voting influencing the election results.
Authorities stressed the importance of concrete evidence to substantiate allegations of voter influence, signaling that without identifiable suspects or corroborative details, the investigation could not proceed further.
Collaborating with electoral bodies and keeping the complainant informed, the police closed the investigation, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.