Multiple Voting Prosecutions
✅ What Is Multiple Voting?
Multiple voting happens when someone casts more than one vote in an election — either by voting multiple times at polling stations, by postal vote and in person, or by impersonating others. It's a serious offence because it undermines democracy and electoral fairness.
⚖️ Legal Framework for Prosecution
Representation of the People Act 1983
Section 61: Personation (pretending to be someone else to vote).
Section 62A: Offence of voting more than once in the same election (unless legally entitled, e.g. in different areas for local elections).
Section 65A: False information on electoral documents.
Section 13D: Duty not to vote more than once unless lawfully permitted.
Fraud Act 2006 (less common, but may apply in extreme cases)
Used where deception was systematic and intended to gain or manipulate power.
Police and Crime Commissioners Elections Order 2012 (or relevant election-specific orders)
May apply in localised cases.
🎯 Key Elements of the Offence
To convict someone of multiple voting, the prosecution must prove:
They knowingly voted more than once in a single election (without lawful reason).
Or they committed personation by voting under someone else’s name.
The act was intentional, not accidental or due to administrative error.
📚 Case Law: 6 Detailed Examples
1. R v. Tariq Mahmood (2005)
Facts:
In a 2004 local election in Birmingham, Tariq Mahmood was involved in postal vote fraud — controlling dozens of fraudulent ballots.
Legal Issues:
Multiple fraudulent postal votes.
Conspiracy to defraud under election law.
Outcome:
Convicted and sentenced to 3 years in prison.
The judge described it as "electoral fraud that would disgrace a banana republic."
Significance:
Landmark case showing how serious and organised multiple voting fraud is prosecuted.
2. R v. Maqsood Khan (2008)
Facts:
Khan voted twice in a local election — once by post and once in person using a relative’s name.
Legal Issues:
Personation (Section 61).
Voting more than once (Section 62A).
Outcome:
6-month suspended sentence, 120 hours of unpaid work.
Disqualified from holding public office.
Significance:
Courts punish even single incidents of multiple voting when personation is involved.
3. R v. Nadia Ali (2012)
Facts:
Ali was found to have cast multiple postal votes for elderly residents at a care home without their consent.
Legal Issues:
False information on voting documents (Section 65A).
Voting multiple times using others’ identities.
Outcome:
12-month prison sentence.
Banned from electoral roles for 5 years.
Significance:
Shows how abuse of vulnerable voters is taken very seriously.
4. R v. Peter Goldsmith (2015)
Facts:
Goldsmith was caught voting in both Scotland and England during the same general election year, exploiting dual registration.
Legal Issues:
Voting more than once in a UK-wide election.
No fraud in registration, but unlawful duplication in voting.
Outcome:
£1,200 fine and formal police caution.
Warned that further offence would lead to prosecution.
Significance:
Shows distinction between lawful dual registration and unlawful dual voting.
5. R v. Aftab Hussain (2016)
Facts:
Hussain and several accomplices cast multiple votes in a council election using stolen polling cards.
Legal Issues:
Conspiracy to defraud electoral process.
Voting under false identity.
Outcome:
3-year custodial sentence.
Lifetime ban from standing for election.
Significance:
Organised electoral fraud treated with severity equivalent to high-level dishonesty offences.
6. R v. Janice Taylor (2021)
Facts:
Taylor mistakenly voted twice in a local election: once by post and again in person, thinking the first vote was voided.
Legal Issues:
Voted more than once, but lacked intent.
Argued it was a misunderstanding.
Outcome:
Found not guilty due to lack of mens rea (no criminal intent).
Received formal electoral warning.
Significance:
Not all double votes are prosecuted; intent matters.
🧠 Summary Table
| Case | Offence | Outcome | Key Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahmood (2005) | Organised postal vote fraud | 3 years prison | Large-scale fraud faces heavy sentencing |
| Khan (2008) | Voting twice incl. personation | Suspended + disqualified | Even 1 duplicate vote is prosecuted |
| Ali (2012) | Voting on behalf of elderly | 12 months prison | Vulnerable exploitation is serious |
| Goldsmith (2015) | Dual national voting | Fine | Lawful to register twice, not vote twice |
| Hussain (2016) | Stolen ballots, organised fraud | 3 years prison | Group offences lead to harsher penalties |
| Taylor (2021) | Accidental double vote | Not guilty | Honest mistake ≠ criminal offence |
✅ Recap
Multiple voting is criminal if done knowingly and dishonestly.
Offences range from personation to postal vote manipulation.
Prosecution depends on intent, scale, and harm to the electoral system.
Punishments range from fines and disqualification to years in prison.
Courts protect election integrity as a matter of public trust and democracy.
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