Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps his Department has taken to deter and prevent electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.

The administration of elections in Northern Ireland is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, and all cases of suspected electoral fraud are referred by her to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I am aware that a very small number of cases of possible fraud were referred to the PSNI last year.

The Chief Electoral Officer has conducted a review of absent voting procedures at recent elections which the Secretary of State will consider carefully. A copy of the Chief Electoral Officer’s letter will be placed in the Library of the House.