Probe into voter personation claim

POLICE Scotland have launched an investigation into voter fraud after a couple were turned away from a polling station because their names had already been used for ballot.

The couple said that they raised the issue with the returning officer after they attempted to cast their votes in Dumbarton yesterday.

Voter personation is where someone votes in someone else’s name before they reach the polling station, leaving them to be told their ballot paper has already been marked.

While voters do have to identify themselves on the electoral register in polling stations, they are not currently required to bring any formal ID.

It came as long queues formed across the country despite more than a million people registering to vote by post.

The remaining results are set to be declared today, amid an expected increase in turnout figures.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Police have received a report of voter personation which occurred at a polling station in Crosslet Road, Dumbarton. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.’

A spokesman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: ‘We reported the matter to Police Scotland and are assisting with their enquiries.’