Election day chaos leads to calls for more staff (From Your Local Guardian)

Election day chaos leads to calls for more staff

7:00am Thursday 29th July 2010

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A report into election day chaos that left more than 100 Elmbridge residents unable to vote has recommended a back up team of staff inspecting polling stations to prevent future problems.

Up to 80 people were turned away from the polling booth at Oatlands County Infant School, and a further 34 at St John’s Church Hall.

A review by Elmbridge Council found that high turnout, combined with a surge near the end of polling and problems processing voters caused the problems in Weybridge.

It also blamed the fact the polling stations were dealing with three elections simultaneously, with a Surrey County Council by-election on top of local and national elections.

The Elmbridge report said the situation was “unforeseen but the consequences were unacceptable”.

It said: “The late voter surge, coupled with the 10pm deadline for the issuing of ballot papers, meant that some of those turning out to vote after 9pm were not able to vote.

“The post-event analysis shows that Electoral Commission guidelines on staffing levels were followed and exceeded.”

The council proposed a team of back up staff to inspect polling stations on election day to deal with any problems, the better use of IT and more contact numbers for poll clerks.

Weybridge North councillor Miles Macleod welcomed the report.

He said: “The report is a very thorough analysis of the process. It’s not acceptable to have people turning up to vote and not being able to cast their vote.

“The council has to make sure they do not find themselves in that position again.

“There were quite exceptional circumstances that election but having said that if there’s a referendum on the same day as the next election we are looking at these issues. We have got to make sure we have got it right.”

Voters in Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle experienced similar problems as they were turned away from polling booths after 10pm on Thursday, May 6.

Were you unable to vote? Share your experiences at elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news