UK watchdog calls for photo ID amid South Asian fraud fears

London: Voters in the UK should show a photo ID before being allowed to vote at polling stations, the election commission said today after growing concerns of fraud emerged among certain South Asian communities, specifically those with roots in parts of Pakistan or Bangladesh. The Electoral Commission, which undertook a consultation on `Electoral Fraud in the UK` last year, found that electoral fraud is committed in areas largely populated by some South Asian communities.

"Proven cases of electoral fraud are rare and, when it is committed, the perpetrators tend to be candidates or their supporters. Voters are the victims and sustained action is needed now to prevent fraud from taking place," Electoral Commission chairperson Jenny Watson said. "There are strongly held views, based in particular on reported first-hand experience by some campaigners and elected representatives, that electoral fraud is more likely to be committed by or in support of candidates standing for election in areas which are largely or predominately populated by some South Asian communities, specifically those with roots in parts of Pakistan or Bangladesh," the commission said in its evidence paper published today. It called for voters to be required to show a photo ID at polling stations in England, Scotland and Wales, as they already do in Northern Ireland. The commission also plans to introduce the change in time for the 2019 local government and European Parliament elections. Officials, political parties and police have been asked to do more to prevent election fraud among these communities. The "higher risk" areas that will come under further investigation include Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Burnley, Calderdale, Coventry, Derby, Hyndburn, Kirklees, Oldham, Pendle, Peterborough, Slough, Tower Hamlets, Walsall and Woking. Birmingham, which has a 10th of ethnic Pakistani population, was embroiled in a mass postal vote-rigging case in 2004 which the presiding judge said would "disgrace a banana republic" and Tower Hamlets in east London is the heart of Britain`s Bangladeshi community. "The evidence and views we have heard raise significant questions about whether individuals within these communities are able effectively to exercise their right to vote...We have begun further work to identify relevant evidence in order to help address concerns about the vulnerability of some South Asian communities," the commission said.