The North East and East Midlands will lead the latest round of voting trials.

They are the regions best equipped to pilot all-postal voting at next year's European parliament and local elections, according to a new report.

Published on Monday, the Electoral Commission study said that both regions have the capacity to deal with the trials, as well as previous experience and support among local authorities.

The recommendation followed a request from the government for up to three areas to test pilot schemes in 2004.

Although Scotland was also considered a possible area for voting trials, concerns expressed by Scottish returning officers made the commission think twice about suggesting it.

The recommendations have been submitted to constitutional affairs secretary Lord Falconer and local government minister Nick Raynsford.

There will also be no pilots of electronic voting at the polls in 2004, due to the short timescale for planning and implementation.

"We believe that the electoral process must remain relevant to voters' changing lifestyles and offer as much choice as possible," said Electoral Commission chief executive, Roger Creedon.

"Running all postal ballots on a regional basis will build on the successful pilots held at local authority level in recent years and enable the new arrangements to be tested on a much larger scale.

"The commission will be evaluating the pilots to assess their success and that they offer a safe and welcomed alternative to traditional voting methods."