Postal ballot possible by 2004, says Byers

The first national elections to be held exclusively by post could be in 2004, Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, said yesterday. He said postal ballots could increase the turnout in elections for the European Parliament in two years.

Mr Byers hailed the success of experiments in postal voting in the local elections this month, and said alternatives should be found to using "stubby black pencils in makeshift booths". He told MPs the independent Electoral Commission was evaluating pilot schemes, involving 13 English councils.

Turnout increased dramatically, in some areas, reaching more than 60 per cent at Chorley, Lancashire and matching General Election levels at Gateshead and South Tyneside. Mr Byers said: "We will wish to consider the commission's evaluation and make any necessary changes ahead of next year's local elections.

"In due course, we will need to consider the benefits and disadvantages of moving to all-postal ballots for a national election, for example elections to the European Parliament in June 2004."

He said reform would "probably be moving too quickly" if postal ballots were used for all voting in the Scottish and Welsh elections next year. Mr Byers said further experiments should be held at next year's local elections.