The Government have asked the Electoral Commission to review and report on the introduction of personal identifiers for absent voting in England and Wales and, in particular, the use of the personal identifiers at the 3 May 2007 elections in England and Wales. We expect to have a clearer picture of the proportion of postal vote personal identifiers which were checked when the Electoral Commission produces its report, which it has been asked to do by 31 July 2007. A copy of the report will be made publicly available when it is produced.
Returning officers were required to check the personal identifiers on at least 20 per cent. of returned postal votes at the local elections on 3 May 2007. From discussions we have had with electoral administrators, we understand that the level of checking at these elections varied across local authorities.