The UK's elections watchdog has been asked to investigate after Birmingham City Council reported instances of illegal 'family voting' at 50 polling stations during May's local elections. Staff at these stations witnessed voters attempting to breach the secret ballot by entering booths with relatives, instructing them on how to vote, or communicating inside the booth.
Presiding officers repeatedly had to inform voters that it is against the law to enter a booth with another person and advise them on their vote. Reports from polling stations detailed instances of voters becoming aggressive when corrected, accusing officials of fraud, or attempting to influence votes through gestures. In one case, a father was seen holding all his relatives' poll cards and advising each on how to vote, with the presiding officer noting it was clear votes were being influenced.
In Handsworth, voters reportedly switched languages when asked to stop collaborating, and in Hall Green South, a woman repeatedly tried to communicate with her husband about his vote, attempting to point out where to vote. Another incident involved a woman entering a booth with her daughter to ensure she 'voted correctly'. One presiding officer observed that while men were often apologetic when informed that talking in booths was an offense, women more frequently took umbrage.
The full extent of these incidents was obtained by the Daily Mail under a freedom of information request, after the council initially provided only a summary. Lord Hayward, a Tory peer who introduced a 2023 law criminalizing attempts to influence voting in polling booths, stated his hope that the Electoral Commission will acknowledge the problem and investigate its extent, suggesting similar issues may have occurred in other councils.
This situation follows a previous row over family voting at the Gorton and Denton by-election, where observers reported high numbers of potential breaches, though Greater Manchester Police found no evidence. Democracy Volunteers reported 291 potential breaches of the secret ballot across the UK in the May elections.
The Electoral Commission stated it provides guidance and support to protect election integrity and works with police on allegations of electoral abuse. The commission is currently gathering evidence from the May 2026 elections and will publish its findings soon. A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council confirmed that observations of potential family voting were passed to the police, who decided to take no further action. West Midlands Police were approached for comment.