Elections attack on democracy claim

COUNCIL elections at Warrington are to come under scrutiny by a watchdog group following claims they amounted to “an attack on democracy.”
Labour opposition councillors have successfully called for a review by the borough council’s scrutiny committee of the way the May elections were handled.
Complaints have already been made to the Electoral Commission by an independent candidate who claims a recount was denied in one ward where the winner had a majority of only three.
Now the Labour group on the council has stepped into the row.
Group leader Coun Terry O’Neill (pictured) says this year’s elections were “a farce” – and senior councillor Paul Kenny says in two wards, the counting of votes “would not disgrace Robert Mugabe”.
The Labour Group have issued an outspoken attack on the council’s chief executive, Diana Terris, for her handling of the elections as Returning Officer.
Complaints the Labour Group allege include:
*Polling cards never delivered to significant numbers of registered voters
*Postal votes not received by registered postal voters.
*Inability of counting agents to witness the counting of votes, particularly in parish elections.
*Inadequate staffing levels in the elections office.
*Votes cast for two wards were placed in the same ballot box and were separated by council officials without the knowledge of candidates, agents or counting agents.
Coun O’Neill said: “What we witnessed in Warrington was nothing short of an attack on democracy itself.
“There was a total failure on behalf of the Returning Officer to ensure the efficient administration of the parish and borough elections.
“I am pleased that members of the council will now be able to scrutinise and investigate this matter. The Returning Officer must take full responsibility for this disastrous state of affairs.”
Coun Kenny who led the calls for a scrutiny review added: “The fact that votes cast for two wards were put in the same ballot box and were separated by council officials unbeknown to candidates, agents or counting agents is simply breathtaking and would not disgrace Robert Mugabe.
“But when this is added to the catalogue of errors then one can only conclude that there has been a systematic failure by the Returning Officer.”
A council spokesperson said: “Every election has different issues and any issues raised about the 2008 elections will be addressed in a review to be undertaken by the council.
“As is the case with all elections, we are reviewing electoral processes and procedures to ensure that lessons are learned and we make it as simple and straightforward as possible for people to turn out and exercise their democratic right to vote.
“Despite the problems experienced, the number of postal votes cast in Warrington increased from 11,868 in 2007 to 12,626 in 2008, an increase of 6.4 per cent
“Although turnout across the borough decreased very slightly from 33.4 per cent in 2007 to 32.7 per cent in 2008, this is in line with a national trend of declining turnout and remained higher than in some neighbouring local authorities.”
The spokesperson added that reviews of council services were often carried out and the involvement of the scrutiny committee would add value in terms of scrutinising the implementation of the review’s recommendations.