UK gets first phone vote
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BRITAIN IS set to become the first country to allow the public to vote in elections by telephone.
In an attempt to improve recent poor voter turnouts, pilot projects are being drawn up by the Government to allow electors to cast their ballot from home.
Voters would be given a secure number on their polling cards which they would quote when registering their vote over the telephone, The Independent has learned.
To fulfil legal requirements forbidding any charges on voting, all calls would be made on 0800 freephone numbers, and personal identification numbers (PIN) would make the chances of someone guessing a voter's identity one in 800 million.
The scheme's backers say it could prove popular because the public are used to banking, and making other financial transactions by telephone.
The idea is seen a radical way of combating the voter apathy witnessed in elections for the Welsh Assembly and local councils earlier this month. Turnout at the polls averaged 30 per cent. In some local by-elections it has been as low as 12 per cent.
Next month's European elections, which will be fought under a proportional system for the first time in British elections, are also expected to be characterised by record low voter participation levels.
Turnout is particularly low among younger voters. Only 11 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds on the electoral register voted in the 1994 European elections.
Under plans being considered by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, the televote scheme would be tried out first in referendums for city mayors.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments