The build up to this year’s general election was arguably one of the biggest ever, with a higher than average voter turnout expected across most of the country. So why were some voters left out in the cold? Robert Munro investigates
June 2010
It was the year voting became fashionable. For the first time American-style TV election debates involving the main party leaders were broadcast and they ignited interest in a previously apathetic electorate to an extent no one had predicted.
The deadening, democracy-weakening effect of the MPs’ expenses scandal, the Iraq war enquiry and the dreary fag-end of Gordon Brown’s Labour government suddenly became distant memories. Water-cooler chat was no longer about Cheryl and Ashley. Nick and David were the new objects of fascination.
The end result was a mammoth turnout on polling day. Instead of the paltry numbers expected, up to 70% of those eligible pitched up to cast their vote. Many local authority election teams were overwhelmed, unable to process voters and long queues developed with waits of several hours in some inner city constituencies. At many polling stations, almost unbelievably, staff ran out of ballot papers.
Those who decided to come back later ended up being unable to vote at all when the polling stations closed at 10 pm. Angry scenes were recorded by TV crews as those queuing were told they may not be able to vote or that stations had run out of ballot papers.
The BBC’s political editor Nick Robinson blogged in rage: “What a tragedy that, after a campaign which engaged and energised many who were previously cynical about politics, tonight's story may be being over-shadowed by the extraordinary revelation that Britain cannot competently run the most basic part of the democratic process.”
Electoral investigation
As the dust settled, the Electoral Commission pledged to investigate the debacle and has now published an interim report into their findings. The first thing the Commission does is to play down the scale of the problems, saying they “were not widespread”, but agreeing that “some voters were badly let down on May 6”.
The report identifies mistakes by local authorities. “In some areas the numbers of electors allocated to particular polling stations were too high and some polling stations had too few staff,” says the commission.
Jenny Watson, Chair of The Electoral Commission, lays the blame for the problems squarely at the door of local returning officers. “Returning officers in the areas affected did not properly plan for, or react to, polling day problems. That is unacceptable. People in these areas were badly let down and have every right to be angry,” she says. But some returning officers deny that they were caught on the hop and maintain they were adequately prepared for increased demand.
Birmingham returning officer Stephen Hughes, scene of much-publicised queues and chaos at the St Paul’s Church polling station in Ladywood, said staff were not to blame. “The council has a team of inspectors that goes to polling stations across the city during election day and if any issues are spotted, there is a pool of response staff that can be reallocated to stations where more support is needed,” said Mr Hughes.
No ballot, no vote
The root of the problem seems to be that anyone who is not in receipt of a ballot paper by the 10pm deadline is not allowed to vote, no matter how long they have been queuing. "We are calling for urgent changes to electoral law so that any elector who is entitled to vote and who is queuing at a polling station at the close of poll will be allowed to vote," says Jenny Watson.
The Electoral Commission is also recommending that the government review the existing system so that polls are “managed more consistently and effectively” and in its full report, due out in July, is likely to advocate some kind of advance voting system.
In addition it is calling for returning officers to be given statutory powers to use any public building as a polling station.
Finally the Commission will use its assessment of returning officers’ performance, to be published in July, to “identify particular areas where we will need to follow up and challenge poor performance”.
The Electoral Commission’s Interim report: review of problems at polling stations at close of poll on 6 May 2010 can be found online.