why are our votes logged?

[cardi88]

with elections coming up here in Wales i always wonder why is our ballot papers marked with a number to correspond with my name on the electoral roll? my dad had postal vote papers through today and a number appears on all the papers. what would happen if i crossed this number out or asked them not to put the number on at the polling station- would the vote be wasted? what happens to the information after?

[jenstar]

Officially it's to combat voting fraud. But mostly it's for precisely the reasons you suspect.

[kwicky]

I suspect, just like the electoral role, it will find its way to interested parties. Junk mail, mailshots and personal information is available at council offices for those willing to pay for it. And we are worried about ID cards?