Hackney Council have instructed postal voters to reregister to vote over fears that they may no longer be registered after suffering from a large cyber-attack in October 2020.
Hackney Council remain firm that although there is “no evidence that any postal voting data was stolen in the attack”, they are urging anyone to re-register their postal vote to ensure that they don’t miss their opportunity to vote in local elections coming up in May.
Voters will still be able to vote in person if they decide not to re-register their postal vote, although Hackney Council are encouraging more postal votes than usual this year to account for social distancing at their polling stations.
The Council continue to work with Government agencies to ensure that their systems are secure now and in the future.
Chief Executive of Hackney Council and Electoral Registration Officer, Tim Shields, said:
“I’m really sorry for the additional disruption that this attack by organised criminals is continuing to cause residents – and I share their anger and frustration.
“I know that many people may be concerned about their personal data, but there is no evidence to suggest that their postal vote registration data has been stolen or published online.
“Due to coronavirus, voting will be different this year, and we are encouraging as many people as possible to register to vote by post to reduce pressure on polling stations and the social distancing we will need to follow to help keep everyone safe.”
