Ketton Nominations, Postal Votes, Proxy Votes, Rutland County Council

Ketton Nominations
The deadline for nominations has passed for the vacant seat in the Ketton ward.
Four nominations have been received so an election will now take place on Thursday 27 June 2013.

The candidates are:

·         Martin John BROOKES (Independent)
·         Gary CONDE (Conservative Party Candidate)
·         Andrew Neil MCGILVRAY (Independent)
·         Liam Francis POWELL (UK Independence Party)

New applications to vote by post and requests to cancel or change an existing postal or proxy vote must reach the Electoral Registration at Rutland County Council by 5pm on the 12 June 2013, if they are to be effective for this election.

New applications to vote by proxy except on the grounds of a medical emergency must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Rutland County Council by 5 pm on the 19 June 2013, if they are to be effective for this election.

Applications to vote by proxy on the grounds of a medical emergency must reach the Electoral Registration at Rutland County Council by 5 pm on the 27 June 2013 if they are to be effective for this election.

Postal Votes Rutland County Council Elections

Today I attend the opening of the first batch of Postal Votes received for the May 5th Election.

This is the first time I have seen and witnessed the process.

All those attending agree to secrecy requirements, something to do with the Representation of the Peoples Act 1983 (as amended)

When a voter returns their envelope to the council it is placed in a sealed ballot box.

At the daily opening the envelopes are removed from the ballot boxes and sorted into wards by counting officers and passed to two counting officers.

The envelopes are opened and numbers checked against a list.

The slip with the signature is removed and placed in one tray, these are then passed through a scanning machine to verify the signature and date of birth.

(In past elections it is very common the voter has not completed this section and the vote is rejected, so if you do use a postal vote it is very important for you to read all the instructions carefully. Mistakes can not be rectified if you are unsure you can always give Rutland County Council a call for advice)

When all have been verified the envelope contain the ballot paper are opened, the counting officer check the number against a list and and the ballot papers placed down are then counted and placed in a large envelope and stored in a secure place until the count.

Mr Pook assures me not under his pillow.