By Andrew Young-
A Chngford man has been fined after bragging on social media that he had voted twice in a razor-thin election this year.
Mohammad Zain Qureshi pleaded guilty to electoral offences at Thames Magistrates Court on Monday (
The court heard how Qureshi was able to vote twice in the Chingford and Woodford Green constituency on June 8 this year.
The 21-year-old registered twice at his home address by registering a second name at the same address.
After his boasts on social media, Qureshi was reported to police because his post openly stated that he had voted twice for the Labour Party – once by postal vote and a second time in person at a polling station. He was subsequently interviewed and charged by police.
He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £200 towards prosecution costs, as well as a £30 victim surcharge. at Thames Magistrates Court. He was lucky to get away lightly because his offence amounts to a fraudulent act. Elections are a serious process that call for honest votes that indicate which candidate is best for the post.
Qureshi was also banned from voting in any parliamentary or local government election, or from holding any elected office, for three years.