Candidate's fraud fears over combined ballot boxes in Leicester and Rutland and Melton elections
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Candidate-s-fraud-fears-combined-ballot-boxes/story-26384476-detail/story.html
Candidate's fraud fears over combined ballot boxes in Leicester elections is the headline of the
Leicester Mercury.
Melton and Rutland concerns are never mentioned in this paper although like the local Rutland
Times they expect people who live in the area to buy their papers.
A number of Rutland Candidates have raised the same concern, Parliamentary, County and Parish
for votes for Rutland will also be placed in one ballot box here in Rutland.
Candidates and agents here in Rutland have expressed concerns about combined boxes they are
also concerned about further risks at the close of poll at 10pm. All the boxes from Rutland will
be transported to Melton Mowbray Cattle Market, where they will be opened and votes separated. The County and Parish votes will be verified and set aside until 2pm Friday 8th May, they will
be returned to Victoria Hall Oakham for counting.
I noticed on the Leicester Mercury there are comments about the postal votes.
Here in Rutland the main issue being, all the votes which have currently been opened and placed
into Ballot Boxes will also be leaving Rutland for Melton on the 7th May 2015.
Rutland's last postal vote opening will take place in Melton Mowbray.
I am attending postal vote openings as a agent for an independent candidate
here in Rutland.
What I find most difficult is when I or other agents raise an issue speaking
to the Returning officers staff it is like talking to the wall that does not
want to listen.
I and others have persistently raised concerns of votes going out of sight
due to the layout of the room.
The room is divided into three areas and we can not see clearly what happens
in the second or third section processes are blocked by computer screens and
a scanner.
Yesterday two workmen turned up during the opening and installed
a second scanner. Due to a request from agents they were not
permitted to take away the large box or the mass of packaging.
We do not know why the returning officer permitted them access because
the new scanner was not used.
Although most of the procedures have improved since previous counts, I
still find postal votes should only be used as a last result.
It appears far to easy for voters to make a mistake and all their votes are
then lost. We were told they are written to after the election.
Also despite a very recent update of the electoral roll, the return to sender
pile is extremely high.
One of the most difficult things for council staff is their ability to not handle
votes at the same time as they are dropping rubbish, the empty envelopes into bins.
So far I have made four requests for this not to happen and each time Mrs Mogg
and Mrs Baker have found my requests for staff to refrain from handling
both at the same time an inconvenience.
It is slowly sinking into one member of staffs head and only once during the
afternoon session did she pick up votes and rubbish, she realised her mistake
walked away from the bin handed the votes to the next stage and then
returned to the bin.
I wonder why the envelopes are not retained for inspection especially
now Rutland no longer tears them open fully and lay them down flat before disposal.
I also note how some of the senior staff show visible annoyance when
agents are asking to seal ballot boxes?
Apparently this is the first time ballet boxes have been sealed by candidates
in Rutland.
It is the first time the box containing rejected votes and mismatches have
also been sealed. Mainly due to UKIP requiring it to be done.
I am not sure other candidates realise they can do this, I think the Conservatives are
not bothered. The send along Conservative Councillor James Lammie
who leaves the room more times than he signs in and out. I expect he
enjoys this relaxed favoritism afford to him by the Helen Briggs the
Conservative Returning Officer. He did look at little puzzled at the end of yesterdays
he looked at the sheet a little surprised to see he had been signed out because he
signed in and immediately departed the room after do so. I wonder why he
why throughout his coming and going he was not challenge. When I and others
who are not Tory enter or leave we are reminded and in some cases staff look
at forms to check the names are on lists.
The notice below is clearly displayed on all entrances and on the table
Cllr Lammie stands at when he is in the room, so I wonder what he
is writing in down on his pad as he observes the ballot papers.
I would ask him, but like the top table of rotten Tories he does not
speak to me and the Returning Officer yesterday ordered Candidates
Agents and Staff to remain silent in the room.
I do hate that noise when the senior staff are drinking and munching
on food whilst working in silence.
None of the rules appear to apply to the returning officer as she took phone calls
through out the day she also tweeted when the law requires all to refrain from using
any electronic devices within the room.
I personally attempt to follow the rules by the book because the Returning
Officer is unhappy with my attendance and wrote to me at the weekend
telling me if I spoke in the room she would remove me.
There is little point in raising these issues with the electoral commission
because they are not impartial in this area and agree with everything the
returning officers does. He is also the the local government ombudsman
which explains why often people receive a poor service.
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Candidate-s-fraud-fears-combined-ballot-boxes/story-26384476-detail/story.html
Candidate's fraud fears over combined ballot boxes in Leicester elections is the headline of the
Leicester Mercury.
Melton and Rutland concerns are never mentioned in this paper although like the local Rutland
Times they expect people who live in the area to buy their papers.
A number of Rutland Candidates have raised the same concern, Parliamentary, County and Parish
for votes for Rutland will also be placed in one ballot box here in Rutland.
Candidates and agents here in Rutland have expressed concerns about combined boxes they are
also concerned about further risks at the close of poll at 10pm. All the boxes from Rutland will
be transported to Melton Mowbray Cattle Market, where they will be opened and votes separated. The County and Parish votes will be verified and set aside until 2pm Friday 8th May, they will
be returned to Victoria Hall Oakham for counting.
I noticed on the Leicester Mercury there are comments about the postal votes.
Here in Rutland the main issue being, all the votes which have currently been opened and placed
into Ballot Boxes will also be leaving Rutland for Melton on the 7th May 2015.
Rutland's last postal vote opening will take place in Melton Mowbray.
I am attending postal vote openings as a agent for an independent candidate
here in Rutland.
What I find most difficult is when I or other agents raise an issue speaking
to the Returning officers staff it is like talking to the wall that does not
want to listen.
I and others have persistently raised concerns of votes going out of sight
due to the layout of the room.
The room is divided into three areas and we can not see clearly what happens
in the second or third section processes are blocked by computer screens and
a scanner.
Yesterday two workmen turned up during the opening and installed
a second scanner. Due to a request from agents they were not
permitted to take away the large box or the mass of packaging.
We do not know why the returning officer permitted them access because
the new scanner was not used.
Although most of the procedures have improved since previous counts, I
still find postal votes should only be used as a last result.
It appears far to easy for voters to make a mistake and all their votes are
then lost. We were told they are written to after the election.
Also despite a very recent update of the electoral roll, the return to sender
pile is extremely high.
One of the most difficult things for council staff is their ability to not handle
votes at the same time as they are dropping rubbish, the empty envelopes into bins.
So far I have made four requests for this not to happen and each time Mrs Mogg
and Mrs Baker have found my requests for staff to refrain from handling
both at the same time an inconvenience.
It is slowly sinking into one member of staffs head and only once during the
afternoon session did she pick up votes and rubbish, she realised her mistake
walked away from the bin handed the votes to the next stage and then
returned to the bin.
I wonder why the envelopes are not retained for inspection especially
now Rutland no longer tears them open fully and lay them down flat before disposal.
I also note how some of the senior staff show visible annoyance when
agents are asking to seal ballot boxes?
Apparently this is the first time ballet boxes have been sealed by candidates
in Rutland.
It is the first time the box containing rejected votes and mismatches have
also been sealed. Mainly due to UKIP requiring it to be done.
I am not sure other candidates realise they can do this, I think the Conservatives are
not bothered. The send along Conservative Councillor James Lammie
who leaves the room more times than he signs in and out. I expect he
enjoys this relaxed favoritism afford to him by the Helen Briggs the
Conservative Returning Officer. He did look at little puzzled at the end of yesterdays
he looked at the sheet a little surprised to see he had been signed out because he
signed in and immediately departed the room after do so. I wonder why he
why throughout his coming and going he was not challenge. When I and others
who are not Tory enter or leave we are reminded and in some cases staff look
at forms to check the names are on lists.
The notice below is clearly displayed on all entrances and on the table
Cllr Lammie stands at when he is in the room, so I wonder what he
is writing in down on his pad as he observes the ballot papers.
I would ask him, but like the top table of rotten Tories he does not
speak to me and the Returning Officer yesterday ordered Candidates
Agents and Staff to remain silent in the room.
I do hate that noise when the senior staff are drinking and munching
on food whilst working in silence.
None of the rules appear to apply to the returning officer as she took phone calls
through out the day she also tweeted when the law requires all to refrain from using
any electronic devices within the room.
I personally attempt to follow the rules by the book because the Returning
Officer is unhappy with my attendance and wrote to me at the weekend
telling me if I spoke in the room she would remove me.
There is little point in raising these issues with the electoral commission
because they are not impartial in this area and agree with everything the
returning officers does. He is also the the local government ombudsman
which explains why often people receive a poor service.
