How The
The BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg disclosed what sources had advised her about postal votes already obtained on Wednesday.
by means of Zlata Rodionova
Thursday, 12th December 2019, 11:04 am
About Kuenssberg’s
Had Laura Kuenssberg’s postal vote feedback been unlawful? How the
About postal
Postal could discuss with:
Updated Thursday, 12th December 2019, 12:22 pm
The elections watchdog has warned that sharing information obtained at postal vote opening sessions is usually an offense before a poll has closed.
Have been Laura Kuenssberg’s postal vote feedback illegal? How the
The video of her remarks, made during an interview on the BBC’s Politics lives program, was once broadly shared on social media, with many claiming she may have breached electoral regulation.
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So what did the Electoral commission say? And is it illegal to divulge postal vote knowledge?
Here is what you wish to be aware of:
What happened?
The business enterprise’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg may have broken electoral regulation by speculating about postal votes.
Ms. Kuenssberg commented on Labour’s outlook during an interview on Politics are living on Wednesday. She admitted that parties would not be supposed to look at balloting papers when they are tested but now not but counted; they do “get a touch” of how they’re doing.
Her remarks have been shared online, after which the Electoral fee posted a statement on Twitter saying that speaking any data received at postal vote opening periods, including about votes solid, might be an offense if accomplished sooner than a ballot has closed.
The BBC hit again at the claims and stated it did not believe any concerns with the on-air feedback.
However, the program was once later removed from BBC iPlayer and is not to be had to watch.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “The BBC does no longer consider it, or its political editor, has breached electoral regulation,” they said.
What used to be the reaction to the Electoral fee?
In a statement on Twitter, the watchdog mentioned: “it is usually an offense to keep in touch any information obtained at postal vote opening periods, together with about votes cast, sooner than a poll has closed. Any individual with information to signify this has come about should file it instantly to the police.”
It later introduced: “any individual attending a postal vote opening session must deal with secrecy. Ballot papers will probably be kept face down during a postal vote opening session.
“somebody attending an opening session should now not try and see how individual poll papers have been marked and should not maintain a tally of how ballot papers have been marked.”
What does the legislation say?
The law around images and publishing in elections is roofed with the aid of the 1983 illustration of the People Act.
The principles around exit polls aim to fend off influencing voters and, therefore, the election result.
It states, “No individual shall, within the case of an election. This section applies; submit earlier than the poll is closed.”
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The act prohibits the newsletter of “any remark when it comes to how through which voters have voted on the election where that statement is (or would possibly reasonably be taken to be) in keeping with data given by using voters after they have voted.”
It also bans the newsletter of “any forecast as to the results of the election which is (or would possibly reasonably be taken to be) in response to information so given.”
Possible penalties include the advantage of £5,000 or up to six months in jail.
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