THE UK ELECTIONS watchdog has warned that it may be an offence to share information obtained at postal vote opening sessions after the BBC’s political editor said she had been told that ballot papers already in painted a “grim” picture for Labour.

Laura Kuenssberg said that while parties are not supposed to look at voting papers when they are verified – but not counted – at opening sessions, they do “get a hint” of how they are doing.

A video of her remarks, made during an interview on the BBC’s Politics Live programme, was widely shared on social media and appeared to provoke a response from the Electoral Commission.

The BBC said in a statement that it did not believe Kuenssberg had broken electoral law in her comments.

‘It may be an offence’

In a statement on Twitter, the Electoral Commission said: “It may be an offence to communicate any information obtained at postal vote opening sessions, including about votes cast, before a poll has closed.

“Anyone with information to suggest this has happened should report it immediately to the police.”

Kuenssberg made the comments after being asked about voter turnout in Thursday’s election during a live interview with the BBC Two show on Wednesday.

She said: “The forecast is that it’s going to be wet and cold tomorrow, the postal votes, of course, have already arrived.

“The parties – they’re not meant to look at it, but they do kind of get a hint – and on both sides people are telling me that the postal votes that are in are looking pretty grim for Labour in a lot of parts of the country.

Read Next

Related Reads

Final countdown: On the doorsteps with the DUP and SDLP in one of the North's tightest races

'Organic but organised': How misinformation is spreading in the UK election campaign

Boris Johnson pockets journalist's phone instead of looking at photo of child sleeping on hospital floor

“Of course postal voters tend to skew to elderly voters and people who vote early… but the kind of younger generation who we know skew much more to the Labour Party you might expect to turn out to the polls tomorrow.

“But in this winter election, turnout is just another one of these factors that we just can’t predict.”

A BBC spokeswoman said: “The BBC does not believe it, or its political editor, has breached electoral law.“

Party candidates and agents can observe postal votes being verified, but the ballot papers are placed face down and not counted until polls close on election day.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More