Earlier this week I went to meet with the Electoral Commission to discuss their plans for encouraging better practice at election counts. Having spotted my views, they invited me thinking I might be interested in their plans – and kudos to the Electoral Commission for willing to talk in this way.
The plans are still in draft and subject to consultation, so I won’t go in to details about them now, but the overall move is towards having a recommended set of count procedures and accompanying forms which are (a) a big improvement on the current situation, (b) produce more accurate counts via more cross-checking at intermediate stages and (c) provide more information to candidates and agents to both keep them informed and help them query matters which should be queried.
The news all sounded very positive. Fingers crossed…
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“more information to candidates and agents to both keep them informed and help them query matters which should be queried.”
This is absolutely crucial. It should be a requirement that agents are shown the verification statement (and allowed to copy it) as soon as verification has been completed.
As I’ve said before Mark, my biggest concern remains the differential in the degree of seriousness with which RO’s, ERO’s and their staff take Town and Parish Council elections. Recounts are rare, even when results are very close, especially when tally sheets have been used. The Electoral Commission should be looking at separate counts, perhaps a day or two later.