Thread: Service Voting - Op STEEL VOTE 2010

For those who are likely to be serving in Afghanistan during the General Election:

Please tell us when you have received the special Op Herrick service voter registration form. Did you get enough information, and did you manage to complete the form and hand it in?

The form will take time to reach everyone - so don't worry if you haven't seen it yet. There should still be enough time when you get the form, as long as you deal with it promptly. We realise that you'll be busy, but it really shouldnt take you long to action it.

How you tell us may depend on where you are at the time. In this thread would be fine, for those who can access it, because it all helps to generate interest and keep others informed.

In addition, BAFF will be setting up messaging arrangements for armed forces voters who have registered with us (free and confidential) as BAFF Military Supporters.

Peter Oborne article in today's DM: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...-election.html

Article in today's online Sunday Times (it gets approx 1/2 a column inch in the paper itself):LINKY. Some interesting (an ill-informed) comments.

Weakness in postal voting may disenfranchise thousands of troops

The government is considering introducing electronic voting for British forces abroad amid concerns that thousands of soldiers will be left without a vote at the forthcoming general election.

Any new system, however, will not come into effect until after this year’s poll when weaknesses in the postal voting system threaten to disenfranchise many of the 9,000 troops serving in Afghanistan.

Electoral law stipulates that postal votes cannot be issued until the close of nominations 11 days before election date. They must be returned to constituencies by the close of polling to be valid.

The timing of this year’s election, widely expected to be on May 6, coincides with the change over of the British brigade in Helmand, a massive logistics exercise which threatens to delay postal services to troops.

A government source said: “There have historically been problems with postal votes for those in the armed forces deployed overseas.

“After the current election we intend to have a thorough look at what can be done to ensure all service personnel get their chance to vote.

“One option we are looking at is e-voting. It would require a change in legislation. It could be rolled out to other groups, but the armed forces would be a priority.�

The Electoral Commission has urged soldiers serving overseas to use proxy votes amid fears that postal votes will not be processed in time. However, it is understood that most service personnel are reluctant to use such votes.

The number of servicemen and women registered to vote fell from 139,000 in 2001 to 21,000 in 2005. Critics believe this was largely due to a law introduced in 2001 which requires armed forces personnel to re-register each year.

Andrew Murrison, a shadow defence minister, said: “The blame for the collapse in the number of service personnel registered to vote can be put at the government’s door.

“It is bizarre and wrong that soldiers who have put their lives on the line for Afghan democracy are left without a vote in their own homeland.�

Another Conservative MP, who has a large garrison town in his constituency, said: “Labour has made it harder and harder for soldiers to vote. It may be incompetence, but it could be knavery.�

A recent strawpoll on the British Army Rumour Service, an unofficial military website, found that 57% of those canvassed planned to vote Tory, compared with 7% who said they would back Labour.

Andy McNab, the former SAS soldier-turned-writer, said he had noticed a strong swing to the Conservatives among members of the armed forces.

“There are quite few people, especially NCOs, who are not at all happy about the prospect of not getting a vote — especially when many are pretty fired up about politics,� said McNab.

“Many people think of the army as very Conservative, but that’s not the case. There are thousands of soldiers from Labour’s northern heartlands.

“However, the row about defence cuts and the Iraq inquiry has made many soldiers want a change.�

In sum:

1. Will take place from next year.
2. Govt source says there have been problems with postal voting in the past.
3. Decline in service voters.
4. ARRSE gets a mention.
5. Andy McNab throughs his 10 pence worth in.

GBTD

The House of Commons yesterday (23 Mar 2010) had quite a lively discussion about Service Voting during Justice Questions:

Oral Answers to Questions - Justice - Service Personnel (Voting)

MPs mentioned the Service Voter Working Group which was set up by the Ministry of Justice last autumn and includes representatives of the three Service Family Federations and - since January - the British Armed Forces Federation.

The Working Group was consulted about and supports the 'bespoke' arrangements for those service personnel who wish to vote by post from Afghanistan in the imminent General Election.

The Minister, Michael Wills MP, said in reply to Mark Harper MP that:

I can assure the House that we have better arrangements for postal voting in this election than we had in previous elections. It is worth reminding the House that every member of the armed services can vote by proxy, should they so wish, and there is no doubt about that vote being registered.

But as the hon. Gentleman will know, there are service personnel operating in extremely difficult and arduous circumstances in Afghanistan, often in remote areas. We are doing everything we can to get the ballot forms out as quickly as possible and back as quickly as possible. There will be a significant improvement. I cannot guarantee that every one will be able to be counted, but we are doing everything we can.

More about this at BAFF website: Minister speaks on service personnel voting from Afghanistan

There's more information on Service personnel voting on the MOD website.

Registration forms, for both Service Voters and Ordinary Voters, and details of how to vote, can be obtained from the Electoral Commission Website. See the Related Links section on the right side of the page.

This was posted by the Ministry of Defence.

Originally Posted by defenceheadquarters

There's more information on Service personnel voting on the MOD website.

Registration forms, for both Service Voters and Ordinary Voters, and details of how to vote, can be obtained from the Electoral Commission Website. See the Related Links section on the right side of the page.

This was posted by the Ministry of Defence.

Check out the useful article at that link. For ease of reference, this is what it says about voting from Afghanistan:

Originally Posted by MoD

Service personnel based overseas will generally have insufficient time to receive a postal ballot and return it in time for polling day, and therefore the MOD and Electoral Commission continue to encourage appointing a proxy as the best way to vote.

An additional Service Voting and registration campaign is being run specifically for those who will be in Afghanistan during the forthcoming election period.

MOD, the Ministry of Justice and the Electoral Commission are working closely together to make suitable provisions for Service personnel in Afghanistan including the fast tracking of postal voting forms.

Arrangements are in hand to improve the existing process through quicker delivery of ballots to enable Service personnel in Afghanistan to receive and return their postal votes within the constraints of the electoral timeframe.

This involves using a facility to sort and pack ballot papers for airfreight to units/individuals serving in Afghanistan and, on their return, for the sorting and distribution of sealed postal ballots to the returning officers in constituencies around the UK.

Units will be required to facilitate arrangements for Service personnel to cast their vote in theatre and to ensure enveloped ballot papers are collected and packaged for airfreight for their return to the UK.

However, this scheme will not work for every Service person in Afghanistan and due to the tight electoral timeframe, electoral timeframes and operational priorities, success cannot be guaranteed. Service personnel are therefore still encouraged to register to vote by proxy

.

Downing Street has just confirmed that the General Election will be called tomorrow for Thursday May 6.

Originally Posted by hackle

Downing Street has just confirmed that the General Election will be called tomorrow for Thursday May 5.

You mean Thursday May 6th I think.

Originally Posted by hackle

Originally Posted by MoD

Service personnel based overseas will generally have insufficient time to receive a postal ballot and return it in time for polling day, and therefore the MOD and Electoral Commission continue to encourage appointing a proxy as the best way to vote.

This is in direct contrast to the promise made by the PM during PMQs on 10 March 2010 where he assured the House that the Justice Minister had plans in hand to enable all service personnel the right to vote.

I, through my MP have asked for a response from the Minister on how this is progressing – no breath holding please –

As regards the announcement made by the PM in PMQs on 10 March about Armed Forces voting, it has not yet been made clear by the Justice Minister what the ‘arrangements’ for every soldier and member of the armed forces overseas will be which will enable them to cast their vote, or indeed whether, in response to your questions, this will include their families – and all forms of voting.

However as the last figures I heard suggested that less than a 1/3rd of service personnel had even bothered to register to vote the politicians may not give this as big a priority as some may feel it

Originally Posted by elovabloke

Originally Posted by hackle

Originally Posted by MoD

Service personnel based overseas will generally have insufficient time to receive a postal ballot and return it in time for polling day, and therefore the MOD and Electoral Commission continue to encourage appointing a proxy as the best way to vote.

This is in direct contrast to the promise made by the PM during PMQs on 10 March 2010 where he assured the House that the Justice Minister had plans in hand to enable all service personnel the right to vote.

I, through my MP have asked for a response from the Minister on how this is progressing – no breath holding please –

As regards the announcement made by the PM in PMQs on 10 March about Armed Forces voting, it has not yet been made clear by the Justice Minister what the ‘arrangements’ for every soldier and member of the armed forces overseas will be which will enable them to cast their vote, or indeed whether, in response to your questions, this will include their families – and all forms of voting.

However as the last figures I heard suggested that less than a 1/3rd of service personnel had even bothered to register to vote the politicians may not give this as big a priority as some may feel it

Considering the general feeling towards Brown & Labour as a whole by serving servicemen & women being,I assume,mostly negative, maybe they are useing this as a tactic to ensure that the majority of thoes overseas cannot vote.

Originally Posted by elovabloke

... However as the last figures I heard suggested that less than a 1/3rd of service personnel had even bothered to register to vote the politicians may not give this as big a priority as some may feel it

Most surveys suggest that the proportion of regular service personnel who are registered to vote is less than in the general population, but is a good deal better than one third.

The worst statistic I recall was 36% registered in 2005 amongst service personnel overseas, a figure which has improved since 2005 as a result of all our efforts, but is still far too low.

Amongst all regular service personnel and their partners, most surveys suggest that the proportion who are registered to vote is plus of 60%, compared to an overall national percentage more like 90%.

So still far too low, but not as bad as sometimes suggested. (Actually making the effort to vote, and succeeding in that effort, is another matter altogether .... )

I point all this out because as well as encouraging everyone to register who is not already registered, I want every candidate to realise that there ARE service personnel and their families who ARE registered to vote in the constituency and that these votes can make the difference on Thursday May 6...

Originally Posted by hackle

I point all this out because as well as encouraging everyone to register who is not already registered, I want every candidate to realise that there ARE service personnel and their families who ARE registered to vote in the constituency and that these votes can make the difference on Thursday May 6...

Seconded

Deadline for voter registration is Tuesday 20th April.

Originally Posted by hackle

Originally Posted by elovabloke

... However as the last figures I heard suggested that less than a 1/3rd of service personnel had even bothered to register to vote the politicians may not give this as big a priority as some may feel it

Most surveys suggest that the proportion of regular service personnel who are registered to vote is less than in the general population, but is a good deal better than one third.

The worst statistic I recall was 36% registered in 2005 amongst service personnel overseas, a figure which has improved since 2005 as a result of all our efforts, but is still far too low.

Amongst all regular service personnel and their partners, most surveys suggest that the proportion who are registered to vote is plus of 60%, compared to an overall national percentage more like 90%.

So still far too low, but not as bad as sometimes suggested. (Actually making the effort to vote, and succeeding in that effort, is another matter altogether .... )

I point all this out because as well as encouraging everyone to register who is not already registered, I want every candidate to realise that there ARE service personnel and their families who ARE registered to vote in the constituency and that these votes can make the difference on Thursday May 6...

Agreed. This will be very important for the nation and the military.

I contacted www.electoralcommission.org.uk and asked how I can vote and have my vote count. I have no proxy in the UK as none of my family live there and have to rely upon postal voting. I asked how I can guarantee that my postal vote counted. This was their reply

Dear AFA06

Thank you for your email.

Postal ballots cannnot be sent out until after 5pm 11 working days before polling day. This is because they cannot be sent out until after the deadline for new applications to register to vote. The ballots then have to be printed and packaged and this can mean they are not sent out until about a week before polling day. We do advise local authorities to prioritise postal votes being sent overseas but this does not guarantee that postal votes will arrive in enough time to be returned for the election. We realise this poses an inconvenience, especially if you are unable to appoint a proxy. But unfortunately the postal voting timetable is outlined in statute and any change to this timescale would entail a change in the legislation. Statute law comes under the remit of the Ministry of Justice. If you would like to comment or complain about the legislation surrounding postal voting, you can do so at the following address:

Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

www.justice.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 3334 3555
Email:general.queries@justice.gsi.gov.uk


With regards to your question about where in the UK you should register, it is up to you to decide which local area this should be. Some service voters choose to be registered in the local area where they were last resident in the UK and others choose to be registered in an area where they have friends or relatives.

Please let me know if you require any further information.

Kind regards

Stephanie McMeeken
Public Information Officer
The Electoral Commission
Trevelyan House
Great Peter Street
London SW1P 2HW
Tel: 020 7271 0728
Fax: 020 7271 0505
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
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