EXCLUSIVE: PSNI reveal they are investigating reports of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland

The PSNI have revealed that they are investigating reports of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.

Police say they are currently investigating a ‘small number’ of alleged electoral fraud cases following a ‘referral’ from the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland.

The PSNI revealed details of the investigation after being contacted by the Derry News today.

It comes after The Electoral Office confirmed that the Foyle constituency had amongst the highest number of applications for proxy votes.

A woman from Derry contacted the paper to share her concern that her vote may have been manipulated without her consent.

She said that she had been approached at her home by canvassers from a political party who said they would help her apply for a postal vote.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she filled out the relevant forms to apply for the postal vote.

She was then informed that her application for a proxy vote had been successful when she 'thought I was applying for a postal vote'.

The woman said that she had a 'postal vote for the last election and I knew nothing about it'.

She added that she had no idea who the person who had been allocated her proxy vote was.

The woman then had to contact the electoral office to cancel her proxy vote and will now be unable to vote as she has no photographic identification.

She said that she felt 'I have the right to vote for who I want, we fought long enough to get it'.

The woman said that she knew somebody else who was in a similar situation.

"The same thing happened to somebody else I know, they are currently attending university and were told someone else had a proxy vote in their name," she said.

"They were furious but thankfully they were able to contact someone and get it sorted and are now travelling home specifically to vote."

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing so it would be inappropriate to comment any further and there are no further details at this time."

Chief Superintendent Karen Baxter said: “We work closely with the Electoral Office and where information becomes available in relation to criminal activity, we take action.”