What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that ballot boxes are protected in those pilot areas where the county council elections are taking place over more than one day?
The security of ballot boxes is essential to the integrity of elections. As such, the pilot orders place a legal duty on Presiding Officers to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the security of ballot boxes, ballot papers and other documents where these items are to be used on more than one voting day. In addition to designing the pilots in collaboration with the four Local Authorities, we are providing them with guidance which has been developed in consultation with the Electoral Commission which provides, amongst other things, advice on good practice as to the security of ballot boxes where voting is taking place on multiple days.