Voters turned away from polling stations in UK general elections

Friday, May 7, 2010

Scores of polling stations in the United Kingdom have been unable to cope with one of the highest voter turn outs in thirty years, leaving thousands of voters unable to cast their vote in yesterday's general election.

Police had to intervene in Heeley, Hackney, and Islington when angry voters refused to leave after the 10.00pm deadline. Elsewhere voters were turned away before ten when polling stations ran out of ballot papers. A late surge in voter registrations also saw hundreds of voters eligible to vote but unable to because electoral rolls had not been updated.

The Electoral Commission sets national standards for elections, and promised an inquiry into elections where people were unable to vote.

The returning officer of each constituency is legally independent and is personally responsible for the local conduct of the election. Returning officers are appointed and funded by local authorities.

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Sources

Jill Sherman, Richard Ford, Jack Malvern and Kat Brown. "Thousands unable to vote as polling stations fail to cope" — The Times, May 7, 2010
"Voters turned away across London as ballots counted" — BBC News Online, May 7, 2010
Charlotte Spratt. "Scandal of polling station queues as thousands are left unable to vote" — The Daily Mail, May 7, 2010

Jo Adetunji and Mark Tran. "General election 2010: Polling queues leave hundreds unable to cast vote" — The Guardian, May 7, 2010

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