VOTING secrecy in last week’s General Election was “compromised” by overcrowding at polling stations, a report has claimed.

The Election Assessment Mission (EAM) found inconsistencies across the 267 polling stations that they visited, including ones in Darlington, as part of its assessment of UK election standards.

The EAM found the secrecy of voting was considered to be compromised as a result of overcrowding, as well as polling station and booth layout.

There were also concerns raised around ballot secrecy during the counting of postal votes.

MPs from countries across the Commonwealth, including Sierra Leone, the Seychelles and Antigua and Barbuda spent last week assessing election procedures in Darlington and seven other constituencies against UK and international laws.

They monitored Election Day procedures at polling stations, met with candidates, returning officers, local officials and community groups in order to assess the conduct of the election.

The EAM, comprised of 32 Commonwealth MPs and election officials, was arranged by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) as it did in the 2015 and 2010 General Elections.

Sebastian Pillay, head of the mission and MP for the Seychelles, said: “CPA UK’s third Election Association Mission has been a successful programme building on the success of its previous election missions.

“The findings show there is a strong democratic system, yet there is room for improvement in the UK electoral process to ensure the trust that exists in the system is continuously reinforced.”

The 2015 Mission’s report highlighted a number of areas for improvement such as preventing political campaigning in nearby polling stations on election day and ensuring polling stations are accessible to those with limited mobility

The 2010 report ensured voters queuing when polling stations close at 10pm can still cast their votes.

A final report with recommendations will be published in August.