For everyone in the Highlands who says their ballot was blank. Apparently, no it wasnt: Dear Ms Blakley, Thank you for your e-mail of 6 October. I note that you wish to make a complaint about how the Referendum was carried out in the Highland Council area. I am assuming that you have already made your complaint to the Counting Officer (CO) there and received his response so will keep my comments relatively brief. On the issue of how ballot boxes were sealed at the end of polling, it is my understanding that the CO in this area has confirmed in response to complaints that he complied with the requirements of the relevant legislation and further that he consulted with Police Scotland when making his risk assessment in respect of how ballot boxes would be sealed at the close of poll. I also understand that he has set out why he is confident that no ballot papers were issued which were blank on the reverse. In addition he has confirmed to me that there were no ballot papers rejected during the Count on the basis that the reverse was blank. Finally, it was entirely within the CO’s powers to decide when he would open postal ballots between the date of issue and polling day. COs generally had a number of opening sessions, some on a daily basis, in the week or so leading up to the Referendum. This is good practice and helps avoid unnecessary delays at the Count. For the avoidance of doubt, postal ballots are only opened at this stage so that the Postal Voting Statements can be checked to ensure no irregularity. The envelopes containing the ballot papers completed by absent voters are only opened after this has been confirmed and at that stage the ballot papers are kept face down, sorted into bundles and secured by rubber bands before being placed back into sealed ballot boxes. These boxes are generally opened at the start of the Count and the postal ballot papers are only counted and sorted into Yes and No votes during the Count. In conclusion you have not given me any evidence of irregularities which would suggest any fraud or the need for any enquiry. You may have your own views as to how election law could be improved and, if so, you may wish to raise these with your elected representatives. It is not open to me or to any official working on elections to change the law but, if Parliament were so minded, there could be amendments with which officials would be more than happy to comply in future. Yours Mary Pitcaithly Chief Counting Officer
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:39:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015