UK postal voting reforms proposed to combat fraud News
UK postal voting reforms proposed to combat fraud

[JURIST] The UK government announced Friday that it will propose new laws to combat fraudulent postal voting, a problem that arose in the recent national election [JURIST report] when fraudulently-requested postal ballots prevented some voters from voting in person and the secrecy of the balloting process was called into question. The Queen is expected formally to call for the reforms in her speech at the state opening of Parliament [UK Parliament backgrounder] next week, setting out a five year sentence for postal voting fraud, and requiring signatures and birth dates on all ballots. The UK Electoral Commission [official website] recently released a report [text] calling for a range of postal voting reforms. BBC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.