Investigation into polling day fiasco (From Croydon Guardian)
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Investigation into Croydon polling day fiasco
6:20am Thursday 13th May 2010 in Local Elections 2010 By Mike Didymus
The election count took place at Trinity School
An investigation into why hundreds were unable to vote due to queues outside polling stations has been launched by the Electoral Commission.
Long lines of people outside stations in Barrow Road, Waddon and Valley Park, Broad Green meant many missed out on exercising their democratic right before voting closed last Thursday.
Croydon Council Labour leader Tony Newman said his party members had gone into polling stations to beg potential voters be allowed to make their mark, despite the 10pm deadline having passed.
He said: “Democracy has been let down.”
Electoral Commission chairwoman Jenny Watson said: “Casting a vote on election day is one of the most important things we do in a democracy, and people will rightly be upset and angry if they were unable to do this.”
Croydon Council initially reported “huge” turnouts across the borough as the ballots came in on polling night, but figures released early the next morning showed turnout was up by more than 15,000 compared with 2005.
The council’s returning officer, chief executive Jon Rouse, has asked for feedback from presiding officers at all of the borough’s 147 polling stations.
By law no further ballot papers may be issued once the polls close at 10pm, although people already issued a paper should be given time to cast their vote.
A family have asked the council to investigate their case after they were turned away from a polling station in New Addington.
Robina Kasaur, 44, her daughter Fozia, 19, and her husband Nifar, 45, were told council records showed they had already voted by post.
A deeply concerned Mrs Kasaur said: “I am 100 per cent sure none of us voted by post. I have written to the council to ask them for copies of all of our records.”
The Electoral Commission investigation will look at whether returning officers in affected areas allocated enough staff and polling stations to cope with expected demand.
