Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party has reported claims of “family voting” in the Gorton and Denton by-election to police and the Electoral Commission.
It comes after election observer group Democracy Volunteers warned it had witnessed “concerning high levels” of family voting.
This is an illegal practice where two voters use one polling booth and potentially direct each other on voting.
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Mr Farage earlier claimed there was “sectarian voting and cheating” in the contest after his party came second to the Greens, who dismissed the remarks as a bid to undermine the result.
In a statement later, he said: “Reform has today reported the many cases of ‘family voting’ to the Electoral Commission and the police.
“What was witnessed yesterday is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas.
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“If this is what was happening at polling stations, just imagine the potential for coercion with postal votes.
“If action isn’t taken now, then we will ensure it is after the next general election.”
What is the row about?
Reform’s candidate Matt Goodwin finished second in the by-election held on Thursday, behind the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer, who won by more than 4,400 votes.
But concerns were raised by Democracy Volunteers about “family voting”.
It is where two voters either confer, collude or direct each other on voting, which is illegal under the 2023 Ballot Secrecy Act. This can see members of the same family or household enter a voting booth together, among other things.
Democracy Volunteers are impartial observers allowed into polling stations, and the group said it saw family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations it was at across the constituency (out of a total of 45).
They said the Gorton and Denton by-election saw the “highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK”.
The organisation also said 32 instances were identified overall, and claimed there were nine cases of family voting at one polling station.
After Democracy Volunteers raised concerns over family voting, Manchester City Council said no issues had been reported and that it was “extremely disappointing” the group had waited until after the close of polls to make the claims.
Mr Farage hit out at ‘family voting’, following the reports earlier on Friday morning, calling the result a “victory for sectarian voting and cheating”.
Responding to that earlier accusation, a Green Party spokesman said: “The scale of our victory shows that the Green Party has picked up substantial support in all parts of the constituency, in all areas, among all people.
“It was a victory for unity over division, for hope over hate. Our message to lower bills, protect the NHS and public services and for peace and human rights was a message which resonated here, to all voters in this by-election.”
The Electoral Commission had directed those who think an offence has been committed to go to police.
Sky News has contacted the Electoral Commission for comment.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: “We can confirm a report has been made. We are in the process of reviewing this report and will provide a further update in due course.”
The Electoral Commission has also confirmed it has received a letter from Mr Farage. But it pointed out that the organisation “does not have a direct role in investigating allegations of electoral fraud, which is a matter for the police”.
