Millions of voters will be casting their vote from the comfort of their own home over the next few days, and (hopefully) sending them courtesy of the Royal Mail to their local returning officer. But will their votes be safe?
Public fears that the postal voting system may be as watertight as a colander is understandable. The recent scandal over ballot rigging in last year's local elections in Birmingham has cooled confidence in the system to freezing point.
On the plus side, it is hoped the high demand for postal voting in this general election will raise overall turnout from the dismal 59% low watermark set in 2001.
Some have already received and sent off their filled ballot paper in the post. But the majority who have yet to do so should welcome the government's last minute publicity campaign which launches tomorrow across 42 local and national newspapers. (Here it is as a pdf).
It all sounds dreadfully obvious, telling voters not let someone else vote on their behalf, for example. And at (an unplanned) £250,000, it's not cheap. But the Department for Constitutional Affairs thinks it worth paying if it gives the hoped-for last-minute boost to confidence in the democratic process.
