TUC welcomes calls for extension of online balloting

26 Jan 2016 01:48 PM

A new report, Secure Voting, from Webroots Democracy provides expert testimony from companies and academics specialising in online voting systems. It makes the case that electronic balloting is safe and secure and will increase voter engagement.

Click here for the link: Secure Voting, from Webroots Democracy

The TUC says the report, published on the anniversary of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy, makes a mockery of government claims that allowing union members to vote electronically in strike ballots would be a security risk.

Former Business Secretary, Vince Cable, said in March 2015 that e-balloting was key to boosting participation in strike ballots.

However, the government’s Trade Union Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords, restricts unions to only using postal voting for strike ballots.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“We have repeatedly heard ministers using the Speaker’s Commission report to dismiss reasonable requests from unions to use online balloting. Today’s report provides further expert evidence on how electronic balloting is safe and secure – and ministers’ concerns are unfounded.

“It’s time ministers stopped dragging their feet and allow unions to run strike ballots online. They are fast running out of excuses.

“How can the Conservatives say the security of online balloting is an issue for trade unions when they used online voting to select their candidate for London Mayor? It is absurd to stop union members from voting electronically on the key workplace issues that affect them.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Wed)  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Kay Atwal (Wed and Thur)  T: 020 7467 1385  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk