Individual voter registration must be introduced

11.47.38am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Apr 2008

Elections in the UK fall short of international standards with the system vulnerable to fraud, a report by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust claims. The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to prevent abuse of the postal voting system.

According to the report, postal and electronic voting are risking the integrity of the electoral process and the benefits have been exaggerated.

Commenting on today's report on election standards from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, Liberal Democrat Chief Executive, Lord (Chris) Rennard said:

"We want tougher action to prevent abuse of the postal voting system. The Government should listen to the Electoral Commission and the Commission on Standards in Public Life and reform the voter registration system.

"Individual voter registration must be introduced. A signature should be required to get on the voting register in the first place."