Andy Burnham 'planning major change to UK voting system' impacting tens of millions of Britons
Andy Burnham is said to be considering making voting compulsory in Britain, with those who fail to show up handed fines.
Three major think tanks are pushing for the change and presented papers to Labour MPs in the Prime Minister's team.
The Prime Minister's most senior advisers are now believed to be mulling over the plans - mandatory voting, and £10 fines for non-voters.
Think Labour, the organisation previously known as Labour Together, published a paper advocating for compulsory voting before the Labour leadership contest.
The proposal was signed off by Alison Phillips, who is now Mr Burnham's deputy chief of staff.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a think tank close to Labour, also unveiled proposals for a £10 fine and a "none of the above" option on ballots on July 10.
And Demos, a cross-party think tank, urged the Prime Minister to adopt the policy within 100 days, according to The Times.
At least two No10 officials are thought to be familiar with the proposal due to their time at IPPR.
Mr Burnham has already expressed interest in electoral reform - though compulsory voting is not currently part of his proposals.
Advocates for the change, which would also affect newly-enfranchised 16 and 17-year-olds, have pointed to Australia as an example of where compulsory voting works.
Turnout in the country has only fallen below 90 per cent once since the reform. Britain has never seen a General Election reach turnout that high.
Stephen Pound, a former Labour MP, said Australia was a "good example" of compulsory voting, despite him not personally being in favour of the policy.
He told GB News: "My basic instinct is no voting should be a choice.
"On the other hand, there's a powerful argument, in all honesty, to say that voting is a responsibility."
Labour MPs have previously tried to introduce compulsory voting, including Antonia Bance, the MP for Tipton and Wednesbury, who has tabled an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill.
Her amendment would require ministers to draw up plans for a compulsory "duty to vote", enforced by a £10 fine, but would allow voters to abstain by returning a blank or spoiled ballot and exempt those unable to participate because of illness, disability, absence from the country or conscientious or religious beliefs.
The Campaign for Compulsory Voting has been working with MPs behind the scenes for the last year in order to support changes to the Bill.
Charles White, from the group, said people had become increasingly concerned by low turnout at elections, warning that Britain's "unequal electorate" had allowed economic failure "to be rewarded".
He said: "It has led many people to feel a sense of alienation from decision-making, reinforcing a cynicism with politics.
"These concerns are clearly something Mr Burnham has alluded to in recent weeks. And with the pausing of the Representation of the People Bill, MPs have an opportunity to look for solutions."
Ms Bance's amendment was supported by Florence Eshalomi, who has since been appointed as a minister within the Housing Ministry.
A separate amendment, introduced by Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and supported by MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, advocated for compulsory voting to be accompanied by a programme of civic education.