PLANS for all-postal voting at elections in Yorkshire moved a step closer in the Commons.
MPs voted by 308-185 to overturn a bid by the Lords to reject Government plans.
A race is now on to get the legislation passed before Parliament rises for its Easter break a week today.
Peers were due to debate the issue again today.
But fears are growing that the wrangle could drag on into next week.
Ministers want to have Yorkshire as one of four regions in an all-postal vote experiment for June 10's council and European Union elections. But Tory and Liberal Democrat peers say the trial is too wide.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said it was unacceptable for the Lords to try to block the plans. He said the Commons had "greater moral authority" to decide on issues of democracy.
"I find it completely unacceptable that Lords should make judgements on the procedures that will apply," he added.
"It should not be up to unelected people to make decisions. I think we have greater moral authority to make decisions about planning and we are saying it should be four of those regions."
