Your vote is yours alone. Whether you vote at a polling station, by post or by proxy, it's your decision.
It's illegal for anyone, including a partner, family member or friend, to influence you to vote against your will.
What is electoral fraud?
Electoral fraud can take many different forms.
Undue influence
No one is allowed to intimidate you into voting a certain way, such as by threatening you with injury, damage or harm.
Bribery
It's illegal to offer bribes, such as money or gifts, directly or indirectly, to persuade you to vote a certain way or not to vote at all.
Personation
No one is allowed to pretend to be you in order to use your vote, whether by postal vote or at a polling station. It is also illegal to vote by pretending to be someone who has died or someone who does not exist.
Applying for a vote under false pretences
It's illegal to apply for a proxy vote or postal vote using false details or under false pretences.
Asking you to show your completed ballot paper
It is an offence for someone to directly or indirectly persuade you to show your completed ballot paper so they can see how you voted.
Other types of electoral fraud
Voting twice in the same election
It is illegal to vote twice in the same election unless you are:
- voting for yourself and as a proxy for another person, where you have been formally appointed to cast their vote
- voting in more than one local authority election because you live and are registered to vote in more than one local authority
Tampering
It is illegal to tamper with, remove or alter ballot papers or postal ballot packs.
For more information, visit the Crimestoppers website.