Memorandum by Grosvenor Print & Design
(POS 17)
I would like to submit the following information
which I feel may be topical to this inquiry. I was only informed
of this inquiry today, so my information will be brief. I am not
sure how much of the information below is relevant.
My main information is concerned with the items
Electoral Fraud, Administration and Cost, Access and Disability
Issues.
BRIEF OUTLINE
OF GROSVENOR'S
INVOLVEMENT OF
POSTAL VOTING
Grosvenor have been involved in Postal Voting
for three years. My personal involvement has been 2 years, over
that time I have tried to improve the Postal Voting "Package"
by using the most up to date printing machinery, innovative processes,
whilst adhering to the Postal Voting guidelines. It has struck
me that very often an over involved and difficult product for
the voter to use has been the norm.
ELECTORAL FRAUD
The "package" that we would strive
to use has several mechanisms to overcome potential fraud. The
ballot paper has a gold foil printed element, security numbered
in metallic ink (with a correspondingly numbered counterfoil)
and a matching numbered Declaration of Identity. The Declaration
of Identity also has a barcode feature that ensures that only
one vote per person is permissible. This barcode could also be
added to the ballot paper. The Counterfoil, Declaration and Ballot
paper are all printed as one piece, with a perforated Counterfoil,
and the voter simply has to separate the Ballot Paper and Declaration
using the perforation.
ADMINISTRATION AND
COST
Some of the present systems of Postal Voting
are complex in the way they work and that makes them unnecessarily
expensive. By making a few simple adjustments to the package the
costs can be brought down dramatically without affecting the end
product. The package can be produced from a database, being entirely
computerised and its production mechanised, to ensure an economic
Postal Voting package.
ACCESS AND
DISABILITY ISSUES
As previously mentioned some of the Postal Voting
packages are extremely complicated, they are very difficult for
the voter to fully follow the instructions, the package we would
favour is very simple and produced using plain English and with
clear instructions. The use of simple folds and perforations,
special window envelopes, etc., makes the whole process straight
forward.
FINALLY
I feel that someone with in depth printing knowledge
should have some input into the regulations regarding the production
of Postal Voting packages, this would ensure that the product
meets all the relevant criteria, but can be produced in large
numbers, quickly and economically.
More importantly the Voter would have an easier
system to use, which obviously would encourage more people to
vote.
I hope you find the above information interesting.
Ian Strange
Account Manager
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