Thread by @Andrewwood17

Voter ID thread
I have been actively involved in Tower Hamlets elections going back to 2010, have reported multiple issues to the Police & local authority and most recent report did result in a detailed Police investigation, they & I know electoral offences were committed
1/

But sole witness willing to talk, the CPS judged too vulnerable to attend trial. Which is also why I cannot reveal any detail other then to say it involved postal ballot papers
2/

But this article about a journalist being attacked is one reason why witnesses maybe unwilling to talk
This happened in 2010 but I know of a violent incident more recently but again vulnerable witness limits my ability to say much
3/
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

There are other ways to 'buy' votes in Tower Hamlets as well but main area of concern locally is:
1. Postal ballots
2. If Postal ballots made more secure what other avenue will fraudsters pursue, which is why I support voter ID
3. Loss of trust in the democratic process
4/

Tower Hamlets Council pulled out of the voter ID trial but did change process for postal ballot papers (fraudsters as a result changed their process in response)
By the way fraud is an issue in local Council elections not general elections in Tower Hamlets
5/

Results in ward elections can be so close that even 5 extra votes can win an election
If you win that is an income of at least £45,000 over four years for minimal work, maybe more if you get an SRA as well = £89,000 over 4 years, worth a bit of vote rigging
6/

Pictures of where Labour party sensibly ask for IDs of people attending their own internal meetings
I have seen other examples on Twitter, enough to know this is a standard process
What is good enough for selection meetings must be good enough for the voting booth