Kirklees and Calderdale have been highlighted as “risk” areas for voter fraud.

The two patches are among 16 local authorities identified as being more likely to suffer vote rigging at political elections.

Elections watchdog, The Electoral Commission, began looking into electoral fraud last year.

It has now said all voters should be required to show proof of identity when they turn up at a polling station.

The Commission has called for a further tightening of the rules in an attempt to stamp out ballot-rigging and restore trust in the electoral system.

At the same time, the Commission has launched a study into concerns that some South Asian communities – notably those with roots in parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh – were more susceptible to electoral fraud.

Claims of vote rigging at Kirklees Council elections in Dewsbury were investigated in 2012 following a massive swing from Conservative to Labour which saw Dewsbury South councillor Khizar Iqbal lose his seat to Abdul Patel.

Mr Iqbal claimed the swing was down to postal vote tampering.

A police investigation was launched and three people received police cautions.

In all there were 11 complaints of electoral fraud in Kirklees in 2012, while in 2008 Calderdale Conservative councillor Mohammed Saghir was found guilty of applying for five proxy votes in other people’s names and given a 12-month suspended sentence.

The Electoral Commission has now said it is essential that electoral registration officers, returning officers and police forces in the 16 areas put in place measures to protect the integrity of the vote before the next set of local and European elections this May.

The other areas on the list are Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Burnley, Coventry, Derby, Hyndburn, Oldham, Pendle, Peterborough, Slough, Tower Hamlets, Walsall, and Woking.

But in its final report of electoral fraud in the UK, the Commission rejected calls to restrict access to postal voting – which has been at the centre of many of the allegations – saying it would prevent many innocent people from casting their vote.

Electoral Commission chair Jenny Watson said: “Proven cases of electoral fraud are rare and when it is committed, the perpetrators tend to be candidates or their supporters.

“Voters are the victims and sustained action is needed now to prevent fraud from taking place. Although the introduction of individual electoral registration this year will tighten up the registration system more can and should be done.”