Green Party leader Zack Polanski has attributed his dual voter registration under two different names to an administrative error by Westminster Council. The anomaly, which saw Polanski registered as both Zack Polanski and his birth name, David Paulden, occurred in 2020 and 2021.
Polanski was recently chosen as the Green Party's candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, a seat formerly held by Labour leader Keir Starmer. This marks his second attempt to enter Parliament, having previously run in 2019 under the name Zack Polanski, while his electoral record at the time listed his address as one where he was registered as David Paulden.
The Green Party stated that there was an "overlap in electoral records" following Polanski's legal name change by deed poll in April 2019. The party emphasized that Polanski never voted more than once and that any suggestion otherwise would be damaging to his reputation. A spokesman for the party described the situation as "administrative cockups by the council, rather than any attempt by him to defraud or mislead anyone."
The discrepancy was noted in electoral registers for Latimer House in central London, where Polanski was registered to vote. Records for 2020 and 2021 showed both Zack Polanski and David Paulden listed at the same address, with each name registered to vote. Polanski won a seat on the London Assembly in 2021, again listing Latimer House as his address.
This is not the first instance of administrative issues Polanski has faced. Earlier this year, he apologized for an "unintentional mistake" regarding unpaid council tax on a houseboat, which was later resolved. In May, he admitted to not voting in local elections, despite having indicated he had postal voted, due to not being registered.
Polanski expressed confidence in his chances in the upcoming by-election, stating, "We have the momentum and we can win." He has resided and worked in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency for many years. The by-election, triggered by Starmer's departure from Parliament, is scheduled for October 8. The Labour Party has held the seat since its creation in 1983.