Report Suggests Military Personnel Should Trial Online Voting

A think tank has suggested that online voting in elections should be trialled for British military staff based overseas.

A report by the youth-led WebRoots Democracy says members of the armed forces face difficulties registering to vote and an unreliable postal system when attempting cast their ballot.

The report also calls on the Government to track the number of military personnel overseas who are on the electoral register.

The report has gained support from former paratrooper and Labour MP Dan Jarvis.

Mr Jarvis said in its preface:

"Unfortunately, in our existing system, many armed forces personnel have limited access to the democracy they defend.”

"The troops who put their safety before our own to bravely fight for our democracy should never be denied access to it."

Areeq Chowdhury, chief executive of the organisation who carried out the survey said:

"The barriers to democratic engagement for our military personnel posted overseas should be dismantled, and technology has a role to play in doing so."

"With around 10,000 UK military personnel posted overseas, it would be a low risk, but high impact project that, in 2017, is surely worth exploring."