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The Labour Party's Lisa Forbes won the by-election by 683 votes ahead of the Brexit Party candidate’s Mike Greene on June 6. But a new report released by election observation group
Democracy Volunteers said multiple voters were seen heading into the same polling booth together at 11 of the 23 polling stations it had observed. While the report found polling station
staff were quick to act, it will raise more concerns after the Brexit Party alleged illegal activity through postal votes. The party has since filed a petition with the High Court to call
for an investigation into the by-election. Dr John Ault, executive director of Democracy Volunteers, said: “Family voting is when we see two voters in a polling booth together which allows
for collusion, discussion or oversight of how the other person votes. “In Peterborough we saw it at a lot of polling stations across communities. “Peterborough has quite a lot of
arrangements to deal with it. Staff were prepared to intervene. Peterborough was clearly active in dealing with it. “It’s something that happens quite a lot in elections.” Chairman Richard
Tice said there were "rumours" about the results, including "vote-rigging”. He added the Brexit Party wanted "answers" and that is why they lodged a petition under
the Representation of the People Act 1983. Democracy Volunteers sent a team of four observers that were registered with the Electoral Commission to Peterborough during the by-election. They
made 23 separate observations across 44 different polling stations. On three occasions they reportedly saw voters photographing their ballot papers. Taking photographs of ballot papers is
not illegal, but breaking the secrecy of a vote is. The report states: “It is a concerning practice which presiding officers did not seem to see or intervene in despite the presence of signs
to discourage photography.” Democracy Volunteers are now set to meet Peterborough City Council to talk about the findings of the report. A council spokeswoman told Peterborough Today: “Dr
Ault had not made contact with us to raise his concerns, however, we have contacted him and he is coming to Peterborough to meet with us next week. “We are aware of this report and when we
meet with him we will be speaking to him about his findings.” Cambridgeshire Police said no offences had been revealed in its inquiry into bribery and postal votes.