Government slammed on e-balloting


The TUC has accused the government of “dragging its feet” over allowing electronic voting in industrial action ballots. 


A review on the topic — commissioned by the government as a concession to ensure the passage of the Trade Union Bill — has recommended that pilots are carried out before online balloting of union members is made legal. Review author Sir Ken Knight said his concerns over the system’s potential for cyber-attack, hacking and coercion on voters had not been fully answered. 


He concluded: “I am not persuaded that e-balloting for industrial action ballots can be introduced immediately. Instead I recommend that a test of e-balloting on non-statutory ballots is necessary as a preliminary step.”


The government said it would “consider Sir Ken’s recommendations and will consult with experts from relevant organisations before responding”.


The TUC said that the review was a “missed opportunity” and that electronic balloting is used by many other membership organisations, including the Conservative Party in its election for a London mayoral candidate in 2016.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668942/e-balloting-review-report-sir-ken-knight.pdf

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/national/government-must-stop-dragging-its-feet-online-balloting-says-tuc