Overview
- - The Commission reminded voters that their ballot is theirs alone and said pressuring someone on how to vote is a serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence ahead of May 7 local and devolved elections.
- - A 2023 law created a specific offence for so‑called family voting, which bans entering a polling booth with another person or standing nearby with the intent to influence their choice.
- - Greater Manchester Police closed its Gorton and Denton inquiry, saying it found no evidence of intent to influence votes and received no usable descriptions, timings, or identities to investigate.
- - Election observers at Democracy Volunteers reported high levels of family voting at the by‑election and defended their methods, while figures including Nigel Farage and Lord Hayward called for tougher scrutiny.
- - The Commission reported no evidence of large‑scale fraud in recent years, noting 1,318 allegations from 2020 to 2024 resulted in eight convictions and three cautions, and urged vigilance and prompt reporting of concerns.