Election result vote count ordered for following day

By IAN SWANSON
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 12:00

THE counting of votes in this year’s council elections is to be delayed until the next day, poll chiefs have ruled.

Scotland’s most senior election official has issued a legal direction that ballot boxes across the country must not be opened until at least 8am on Friday, May 4, ten hours after the polls close.

Mary Pitcaithly, convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB), revealed the decision following a “stakeholder” consultation.

She said the next-day count would allow last-minute postal votes to be processed without the pressure of an immediate count and enable “more effective risk management” in relation to the electronic counting system.

She added: “It will also allow more attentive scrutiny from observers and ensure that staff are operating at optimal effectiveness while making crucial decisions in the service of local democracy.”

In the last three council elections – 1999, 2003 and 2007 – there was no choice but to count votes the next day because they coincided with the Scottish Parliament elections, which had to be counted first.

Now the elections have been “de-coupled”, the count for the council elections could start immediately after the polls close on Thursday, May 3.

Politicians, including former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie and former Edinburgh Labour Lord Provost Lesley Hinds, argued people wanted to know the result as soon as possible and said an overnight count would allow talks about the formation of the new council administration to get under way.

The EMB consultation, published just before Christmas with a closing date of January 6, was limited to election officials, the Electoral Commission, the political parties panel, the leadership of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the media.

Ms Pitcaithly said the overwhelming majority of responses favoured a next-day count.

In a direction issued to her fellow returning officers, she said: “I am committed as convener of the EMB to ensure that the interests of the voter, not the dictates of systems, suppliers, logistics or other stakeholders, must drive the process.

“The voter must come before any other stakeholder, be they candidates, media, observers or electoral administrators.”

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22

gratislobotommy

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 08:00 PM

ABDUCTIONS FORCED BRAIN ELECTRODE-CHIP IMPLANTS BLACKLISTING FORCEFUL UNEMPLOYMENT HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION MK-ULTRA BRAINWASHING AND ASSASSINATIONS AGAINST WHITE(under "NAZI" lie) CIVILIAN POPULATION TODAY IN 20112012 ACROSS THE EUROPE AND NORTHERN AMERICA! VISIT ALL NEW http:notethicsbutbutchery.blogspot.com OR WHOLE STORY http:myshortbiography.blogspot.com ARIZONA = UTOYA = THERE WAS NO SHOOTING EITHER IN NORWAY OR ARIZONA, BUT INSTEAD “AFTERLIFE” CASH$$ & FLASH MOB WITH TEAR GASS AND THEATER WHILE CALLING YOU TERRORISTS !!!! Guilt or blame and shame weapon against us and our families in our own countries during bogus “economic crises” while importing here non white third world foreigners! 911(TWIN TOWERS) = NORWAY BOMBING OR STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM, HOWEVER, WAS REAL !!! http:stateofterror.blogspot.com OR http:avsecbostjan.blogspot.com

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21

Charles P

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:29 AM

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20

allymax

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:33 PM

Hmm, interesting; it appears to me that the EMB has out-foxed The Electoral Commission; next-day counts could put a wee spanner in their 'works'. I like this 'development', the Electoral Commission have recently released news that they are about to 'change the rules' regarding how elections are run in Scoltand, this 'move' by the EMB will hopefully spike their fix-trix plans......As far as Sue Bruce is concerned, I see no problem with her; she conducted her duties as Returning Officer honestly the last time in the Scottish General elections.

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19

Auld Twa

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:48 PM

The EMB consultation...... was limited to election officials, the Electoral Commission, the political parties panel, the leadership of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the media. The EMB, another great democratic organisation, the only people they did not consult were the voters.

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18

keyser soze

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:06 PM

Not Available @ 17.... I take it you must be related to her. I have never met her, but have had many dealings with her. She behaves in the grand tradition of Chief Executive's in this city, by being arrogant, beyond reproach and overseeing council officials who constantly breach the councils own Standards of Service. She should and could put a stop to that practice but chooses not to. I don't know if you have relative's in Aberdeen, I do and that city was glad to see the back of her. She is like so many in this council who are grossly overpaid ,but grossly under achieve.

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17

Not Available

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:49 PM

#16 keyzer sore - What is you plroblom with Sue Bruce, the Chief Executive You have obviously never met her as she is a very competent person and is trying to drive the Council into the 21 century. Unfortunately she does not get all the backing she deservesfrom the politician who prefer to pay petty party politics rather then think about the good fo the citizens of Edinburgh.

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16

keyser soze

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:34 PM

Gus @15... surely it will be Sue Bruce. On top of her already obscene salary for overseeing this present bunch of incompetants, she will be due a massive payment for "organising" the election in Edinburgh. Being guard dog is the very least she could do.

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15

gus1940

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:55 PM

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14

Irritatingly Intelligent Chauvinist

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:52 PM

The choice is quite simple as far as I'm concerned. Any councillor who is in the present administration and who stands for re-election should be immediately disregarded on grounds of incompetence.

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13

AULD REEKY

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:26 PM

As long as Dawe and Cardownie and the rest of the totally incompetent LibDemSNP Coalition "clowncillors" are out on their axses - good for the City - and while they are voting take a few opposition "clowncillors" out as well who have served this City "disgracefully" time for a "big change" and hold Councillors resposible. Bye Bye Jenny and Stevie and all the rest!!! the clock is ticking - not long until May!!!

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12

Self Determination

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:14 PM

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11

keyser soze

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:17 PM

Rugal @ 9.... I honestly do not believe that there is anybody stupid enough to vote for these people.I know many people who have traditionally voted SNP, Labour etc. We will be changing our voting habits this time. Our existing councillors would be lucky if there own family voted for them.

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10

Belle du Jeer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:04 PM

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9

Rugal

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:01 PM

#7 The way the system works they don't actually need that many idiots to vote for them.

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8

Belle du Jeer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM

"...following a “stakeholder” consultation." If I was holding a stake over Jenny "Undead" Dawe, then all I would want to know is who could hit it the hardest.

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