ELECTION INTEGRITY
BILL
Foreword by Danny Kruger MP
The British people should be rightly proud of our democratic history. From Magna Carta to the Glorious Revolution and the Reform Acts of the 19th century, Britain’s electoral system has led the world. However, recent changes to the makeup of Britain now jeopardise our democracy. There are now 13 million immigrants living in Britain, an historically unprecedented change to our country.1 This brings a series of challenges to our political system. Every Commonwealth citizen living in Britain has the right to vote in our elections. They don’t need to become British citizens, live here for a certain amount of time, or express any loyalty to our country.2 Family voting, in which entire households are coerced or directed to vote in a particular way, is increasingly commonplace, as recently seen in the Gorton and Denton by-election and in the local elections in Birmingham in May.3 Campaign material is written in languages foreign to the British Isles, designed to appeal to a narrow segment of the electorate - often on sectarian or ethnic grounds.4 Postal voting can take place without a valid reason, creating an open door for abuse and fraud. We can already see the results, with a litany of convictions for electoral fraud since 2000. On top of this, the dynamics listed above reinforce each other and have led to the election of candidates focused on foreign conflicts and sectarian interests. This is a growing problem at the heart of our democracy. Reform UK stands against these attempts to undermine Britain’s political system. We believe in national preference - the principle that Britain should be run in the interests of the British people. We’re not ashamed to say this. That’s why we’re proposing amendments to the Representation of the People Bill - to make sure that British people get to choose our leaders and make our laws. Our democracy has required reforms in the past. Now we need to protect it from a new threat. Britain’s political system is broken. Britain needs Reform. Danny Kruger MP Head of Preparing for Government, Reform UK
Introduction
Britain’s electoral system is broken. The arrival of the Boriswave has accelerated a decades- long process which has seen British democracy undermined by massive numbers of non- citizens voting, divisive foreign language-based campaigning, and coercive voting. Although concerns around these practices have intensified in recent years, they have a track record dating back decades. For example, six Labour councillors were found guilty of “massive, systematic and organised” postal voting fraud in 2005, in a case that the judge said “would disgrace a banana republic”. 5 Three Labour party activists, including a former mayor of Peterborough, were jailed in 2008 over vote rigging attempts. 6 A report found that there were at least 42 convictions for electoral fraud in the period 2000-2007; a report found that Britain’s electoral system made it ‘childishly simple’ to commit fraud.7 Most notoriously, Lutfur Rahman’s election as mayor of Tower Hamlets was voided in a 2015 electoral fraud case, and he was banned from holding public office for five years. 8 Allegations upheld by the Electoral Commission included voting fraud and bribery. Despite this, Mr Rahman was re-elected as mayor in 2022. These concerns continue today. Postal votes made up a quarter of all votes at the last General Election.9 Independent observers reported ‘major concerns’ over family voting in Gorton and Denton in 2026, the highest level they’ve seen in a decade of observing British elections. 10 There have been reports of intimidation and verbal abuse at Birmingham’s local elections this year, with an official investigation reportedly ongoing.11 At the same time, there has been a rise in ethnic and sectarian messaging, most notably the election of Muslim independent MPs on an explicitly pro-Gaza campaign platform in 2024.12 The vulnerability of our electoral system to fraud and manipulation has never been fully addressed by the establishment parties. Instead, they brought millions more foreign citizens into the country - many with an automatic right to vote as soon as they arrived. This is only making matters worse, and risks destroying our democracy entirely.
Our Election Integrity Bill
Only Reform UK is willing to make the changes that are necessary to save our electoral system from further abuse and exploitation. We have moved the following changes in the Representation of the People Bill (see below). If our changes are not accepted, when in government we will bring forward our own Bill to secure British democracy. Removal of the right to vote of Commonwealth citizens Choosing political representatives is a serious act with grave consequences. Voting should be limited to citizens, not automatically granted to people who have no loyalty to Britain. This rule would prevent hundreds of thousands of immigrants from influencing our choice of political leaders in parliamentary elections and local government elections in England and Wales.13 Election material only in languages native to the British Isles Publishing material designed to only appeal to one ethnic group is inherently divisive. It creates a lack of transparency for voters and often facilitates sectarian messaging. Election material should only be published in English, Welsh, and languages native to the British Isles (or accessible communication formats such as Braille or BSL). Limitations on postal voting There are a narrow set of circumstances in which postal voting is acceptable. Some people are entirely unable to vote in person, and members of the armed forces serving Britain abroad cannot be expected to return home. Postal voting for other reasons, however, creates opportunities for fraud and abuse, such as coercive voting, and has only been allowed since 2000. This amendment restricts postal voting to a narrow set of circumstances. Protection against coercion and control A person’s vote should be their own. There has been a rise in family voting, where members of a family coerce their relatives in the voting booth. Presiding officers should be allowed to enforce rules to prevent this behaviour, requiring voters to vote separately. In addition, they must be able to set aside votes from voters where there are concerns about their ability to understand the voting process or language. Reform will tackle the problems at the heart of British democracy and return power solely to the British people.
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL 2026
______________________________
AMENDMENTS
TO BE MOVED
ON REPORT
_______________________
REFORM UK
To move on the following Clauses -
PART 1
Amendments to other Acts Amendment 1 – Removal of the right to vote of Commonwealth citizens 1. Parliamentary electors 1. The Representation of the People Act 1983 is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (4) below. 2. In section 1 (parliamentary electors), in subsection (1)(c) for “Commonwealth” substitute “British”. 3. In section 2 (local government electors) for subsection (1)(c) substitute— “(c) is a British citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; and” 4. In section 4 (entitlement to be registered as parliamentary or local government electors)— a. in subsection (1)(c) for “Commonwealth” substitute “British”. b. for subsection (3)(c) substitute— “is a British citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland” c. in subsection (6) omit the words from “Commonwealth” to “such leave” Member’s Explanatory Statement: This new clause would remove the right of Commonwealth citizens who are not British citizens to vote in parliamentary elections and in local government elections in England and Wales.
Amendment 2 – Election material only in languages native to the British Isles 2. Election material only in languages native to the British Isles 1. RPA 1983 is amended as set out in subsection (2). 2. After section 110 (details to appear on election publications) insert— “110ZA Election publications to be in languages native to the British Isles only 1. A person shall not print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any bill, placard, poster or printed document to which section 110(1) of this Act applies unless the material is in English, Welsh, a language native to the British Isles or accessible communication formats. 2. A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction— a. in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both; b. in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.” 3. In the case of a candidate or election agent, a contravention of subsection (1) is an illegal practice.” 4. For the purposes of subsection (1)— “accessible communications format” means a format which enables a person with a disability to access the information concerned as feasibly and comfortably as a person who does not have that disability. “language native to the British Isles” means a language specified by the Secretary of State in regulations. 5. Regulations under subsection (4) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. 3. PPERA 2000 is amended as set out in subsection (4) below. 4. After section 143 (details to appear on election material) insert— “143ZA Election material to be in languages native to the British Isles only 1. No election material shall be published unless the material is in English, Welsh, a language native to the British Isles or accessible communication formats. 2. A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence. 3. A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction— a. in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both; b. in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both. 4. In the case of a registered party or its officers, a contravention of subsection (1) is an illegal practice.” 5. In this section— “election material” has the meaning given by section 143ZA(1) of this Act “accessible communications format” means a format which enables a person with a disability to access the information concerned as feasibly and comfortably as a person who does not have that disability. “language native to the British Isles” means a language specified by the Secretary of State in regulations.” 6. Regulations under subsection (5) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. Member’s Explanatory Statement: This new clause would require election material to be published only in English, Welsh, languages native to the British Isles or accessible communication formats such as Braille or BSL.
Amendment 3 – Limitations on postal voting 3. Limitations on postal voting 1. The Elections Act 2022 is amended as set out in subsection (2). 2. After section 2 (power to make regulations about registration, absent voting and other matters) insert— “2A Postal voting entitlement restricted to serving members of the armed forces and those unable to vote in person 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no person is entitled to vote by post at a parliamentary or local government election unless the person is a serving member of the armed forces of the Crown or unable to vote in person. 2. For the purposes of this section, a “serving member of the armed forces of the Crown” means a person who— a. is a member of the regular forces or the reserve forces (within the meaning given by section 59(1) of this Act); and b. is serving with the armed forces on the date of the poll. 3. The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the form of declaration or evidence required to establish entitlement under this section. 4. The Secretary of State must by regulations prescribe the categories of persons who are unable to vote in person.” Member’s Explanatory Statement: This new clause would limit postal voting to serving members of the armed forces and other persons who are unable to vote in person.
Amendment 4 – Protection against coercion and control 4. Protection against controlling and coercive in-person voting 1. Section 62C of RPA 1983 (influencing voters at polling booths) is amended as set out in subsection (2). 2. After subsection (5) at end insert— 6. “The presiding officer or a representative of the presiding officer may require that persons who appear to have arrived at the polling station together, or who are otherwise associating with each other, enter the polling station and cast their votes one at a time in order to ensure that there is no undue influence. 7. The presiding officer or a representative of the presiding officer may speak to any voter to determine, in general terms, the voter’s ability to understand— a. the voting process; and b. the English or Welsh language. 8. If the presiding officer or representative has concerns over the voter’s ability to understand either matter referred to in subsection (7), the presiding officer shall— a. place the ballot paper aside, mark it as belonging to the voter, and it shall not be counted; and b. inform the voter that the vote has been set aside and of the right of appeal under subsection (9). 9. The person whose vote has been set aside under subsection (8) may appeal to the magistrates’ court (or, in Scotland, the sheriff court) for an order that the vote be counted, and such an appeal must be made no later than 48 hours after the close of the poll and the court shall list the matter within 48 hours. 10. A person who does not comply with the requirement of a presiding officer or representative under subsection (6) is guilty of an offence under this section and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months (or both).” Member’s Explanatory Statement: This new clause would allow presiding officers or their representatives to require voters to vote separately and to set aside votes from voters where there are concerns about their ability to understand the voting process or language.
Endnotes
1. https:/ /www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/ longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingdecember2025 2. “Any type of permission to enter or stay is acceptable, whether indefinite, time limited or conditional.” https:/ /www.electoralcommission.org. uk/running-electoral-registration-wales/eligibility-register-vote/what-are-nationality-requirements-register-vote/can-a-commonwealth-citizen- register-vote 3. https:/ /reformparty.uk/news/birmingham-elections-marred-by-family-voting 4. https:/ /x.com/muslim_greens/status/2025935687984312697?s=61 5. https:/ /www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/apr/05/politics.localgovernment 6. http:/ /news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7335364.stm 7. https:/ /researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN03667/SN03667.pdf 8. https:/ /www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32428648 9. https:/ /www.gov.uk/government/publications/representation-of-the-people-bill-policy-summaries/postal-and-proxy-voting 10. https:/ /democracyvolunteers.org/major-concerns-over-family-voting-in-gorton-and-denton-poll/ 11. https:/ /www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-elections-watchdog-probe-family-34502521 12. https:/ /www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24p2l11y12o 13. This clause leaves the voting rights of Irish citizens intact.
Promoted by Reform UK, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, SW1P 4QP.