Electoral mischief on net brings warning

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Hackers who use the internet to alter people's identities on the electoral roll could face prosecution.

The warning from Electoral Enrolment Centre manager Murray Wicks follows the plight of a New Plymouth woman whose name was changed to Mr Fat Ass.

Kylene Soar was stunned when she received the letter from the electoral centre asking her to confirm that she had changed her title from Miss to Mr, and her middle name from Fay to Fat Ass.

The Herald logged on to the website and found it would be easy to change a person's details.

All that was needed was the person's full name, date of birth and the street number of their home.

The Herald also learned of a basset hound with prolific toilet habits that had been listed in the electoral roll as a cable-layer.

But Mr Wicks said Miss Soar's details had not been changed on the electoral roll.

The whole point of the letter was to ask for a signature to confirm whether her details should be changed.

Mr Wicks said the prank was only the second of its type on the website. It was no easier to pull the stunt on the internet than it was to do it in a post office with an electoral change-of-details form.

Mr Wicks warned that his office could trace anybody who used the internet to change another person's details, which was illegal.

Miss Soar, 23, said she was angry that an enemy could attack her in such a way, using a website set up 18 months ago to help voters change their details before the election.

She was more angry that electoral staff did not stop the letter being posted.

"You should not be able to do that," the sickness beneficiary said yesterday.

"My weight is a sensitive issue.

"The electoral books have just been printed, and that name could have been in there."

Miss Soar said she had complained to police.

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