Reform UK proposes Election Integrity Bill to restrict voting access

Reform UK has introduced the ‘Election Integrity Bill’, a series of proposals aimed at overhauling the British electoral system. The party, led by Nigel Farage, seeks to implement mandatory English proficiency checks at polling stations and restrict election campaign materials to languages native to the British Isles, such as English, Welsh, or Gaelic, alongside Braille and British Sign Language.

The bill proposes significant changes to voting access, including the removal of voting rights for Commonwealth citizens and strict limitations on postal voting. Under the proposed rules, postal voting would be largely restricted to members of the armed forces, the diplomatic service, or individuals with medical certifications proving they are physically unable to vote in person.

Reform MP Danny Kruger defended the postal vote restrictions, stating that those unable to vote in person due to being on holiday are ‘disenfranchising themselves’. He argued that the current system is being ‘systematically eroded’ by uncontrolled immigration and foreign interests. The party also aims to introduce protections against ‘family voting’ to prevent voter coercion.