As the dust settles on the Gorton and Denton by-election, a fierce debate has erupted over the integrity of the voting process, with allegations of widespread "family voting"—an illegal practice that threatens the secrecy of the ballot—casting a shadow over the results. The controversy, ignited by the observer group Democracy Volunteers, has drawn in senior figures from all major parties and left local authorities scrambling to defend the conduct of the poll.
On the evening of February 26, 2026, after polls closed, Democracy Volunteers released a statement detailing what it described as "concerningly high levels of family voting" witnessed across the Greater Manchester constituency. According to the group, their four accredited observers attended 22 of the 45 polling stations, spending between 30 and 45 minutes at each location. In their sample of 545 voters, they reported 32 instances of family voting—where two voters use one booth and potentially direct each other on how to vote—including a staggering nine cases in a single polling station. The group said this practice was observed in 15 of the 22 polling stations they visited, representing 68% of those observed.
Dr. John Ault, director of Democracy Volunteers, did not mince words in his assessment. "Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10-year history of observing elections in the UK," he stated, as reported by the Press Association. Ault added, "We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high. In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby we saw family voting in 12% of polling stations, affecting 1% of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68% of polling stations, affecting 12% of those voters observed."
For context, the practice of family voting is explicitly prohibited under the Ballot Secrecy Act of 2023, which was designed to reinforce the principle that every vote should be cast in secret and without undue influence. Despite this, Democracy Volunteers found that signage discouraging family voting was present in only 45% of the polling stations they observed. The group also noted other irregularities, such as voters being turned away for not being registered in Westminster elections, individuals taking photographs of their ballot papers, and one case where a person was allowed to vote despite already being marked as having voted earlier in the day.
The reaction from political leaders was swift and pointed. Anna Turley, Labour Party chair, called the reports "extremely worrying and concerning" in an interview with BBC Newsnight. She said, "That’s not what we want to see in our democracy. So obviously we need to see the evidence and the report, and then make due decision about what authorities should look into this." Turley further emphasized, "Every vote should be personal, secret. That’s the cornerstone of our democracy. So any evidence to the contrary is very concerning and I am sure the relevant authorities will be looking at this in the days and weeks ahead."
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, raised the stakes by suggesting the findings called into question "the integrity of the democratic process in predominantly Muslim areas." Meanwhile, Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin echoed these concerns, stating, "Given the reports we are reading in UK media about family voting and sectarianism, I am deeply concerned about the extent to which the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election is a free, fair, and democratic election." Green Party leader Zack Polanski also weighed in, supporting calls for a probe into the issue. "I think it’s important that there’s full transparency about the democratic process, and if the recommendation is that there should be an inquiry or further steps then yes I’d support that," Polanski told Newsnight.
David Bull, chair of Reform UK, took a hardline stance, describing electoral fraud as "a stain on democracy" and emphasizing the need for any issues to be reported and handled in accordance with the law.
However, not everyone agreed with the observer group’s assessment—or their timing. Manchester City Council, responsible for administering the election, strongly disputed the claims. The council stated that no issues had been reported during polling and criticized Democracy Volunteers for waiting until after polls closed to make their allegations public. A spokesperson for the acting returning officer said, "Polling station staff are trained to look out for any evidence of undue influence on voters. No such issues have been reported today. If Democracy Volunteers were so concerned about alleged issues they could and should have raised them with us during polling hours so that immediate action could be taken."
John Ault, for his part, insisted that his team had raised the matter at several polling stations and had questioned staff about how family voting was being handled. He explained, "It is a normal international standard not to issue a comment until after a voting has finished, another accepted aspect of election observation is that you are encouraged to ask questions of staff… We posed questions about family voting in several polling stations and how staff dealt with it when it arose."
The by-election itself was already fraught with political tension, seen as a crucial test for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer amid sagging poll numbers and mounting pressure on his leadership. Labour had won Gorton and Denton decisively in 2024, but the 2026 contest quickly became a tight three-way battle among Labour’s Angeliki Stogia, Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin, and the Greens’ Hannah Spencer. Both Labour and the Greens positioned themselves as the main alternative to Reform UK, with party sources claiming that more than a thousand Labour activists were out canvassing on polling day—more than at any previous by-election in the area.
The outcome of the contest, expected on the morning of February 27, 2026, is likely to have significant implications for May’s local and devolved elections and could shape the broader political landscape ahead of the next general election. A Labour victory would provide much-needed breathing space for Starmer, while defeat could reignite speculation about his leadership and the party’s direction.
As the debate over family voting continues, calls for a thorough investigation have only grown louder. The incident has highlighted not only the challenges of maintaining electoral integrity in diverse communities but also the difficulties in balancing robust oversight with the need for public trust. With all eyes now on the authorities’ next steps, the controversy has ensured that the Gorton and Denton by-election will be remembered as much for its aftermath as for its outcome.