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Holyrood 'should not run ballots' Holyrood 'should not run ballots'
(about 5 hours later)
Future Scottish elections should not be run by the Scottish Government, a committee of MPs has said.Future Scottish elections should not be run by the Scottish Government, a committee of MPs has said.
The Commons Scottish affairs committee said transferring responsibility for the ballots was not necessary for them to run smoothly.The Commons Scottish affairs committee said transferring responsibility for the ballots was not necessary for them to run smoothly.
However, it criticised the role of the Scotland Office in last year's local and Holyrood elections, when more than 180,000 ballots were spoiled. However, it criticised the role of the Scotland Office in last year's local and Holyrood elections, when more than 140,000 ballots were spoiled.
It also said there had been a loss of confidence in electronic counting.It also said there had been a loss of confidence in electronic counting.
The Scottish Parliament agreed in January that Holyrood should be given more say over how Scottish elections are conducted.The Scottish Parliament agreed in January that Holyrood should be given more say over how Scottish elections are conducted.
First Minister Alex Salmond has led calls for responsibility for the ballots to be passed from the Scotland Office to Holyrood.First Minister Alex Salmond has led calls for responsibility for the ballots to be passed from the Scotland Office to Holyrood.
There may be a case for organisational changes on the ground in Scotland, including reformed structures of accountability Scottish Affairs Committee reportThere may be a case for organisational changes on the ground in Scotland, including reformed structures of accountability Scottish Affairs Committee report
But the committee's report stated: "This is not necessary in order for elections to proceed smoothly in future.But the committee's report stated: "This is not necessary in order for elections to proceed smoothly in future.
"However, there may be a case for organisational changes on the ground in Scotland, including reformed structures of accountability.""However, there may be a case for organisational changes on the ground in Scotland, including reformed structures of accountability."
The hard-hitting analysis of what went wrong last May also called for a review of the Electoral Commission's status.The hard-hitting analysis of what went wrong last May also called for a review of the Electoral Commission's status.
"It is difficult to see the Electoral Commission as having added any value to this entire process," the report concluded."It is difficult to see the Electoral Commission as having added any value to this entire process," the report concluded.
The committee of MPs took evidence from Canadian elections expert Ron Gould, who was appointed to draw up an independent review of the voting confusion.The committee of MPs took evidence from Canadian elections expert Ron Gould, who was appointed to draw up an independent review of the voting confusion.
Mr Gould had said he believed Holyrood and council elections should be "decoupled" and held on separate days. The Scottish Government is already consulting on this.Mr Gould had said he believed Holyrood and council elections should be "decoupled" and held on separate days. The Scottish Government is already consulting on this.
The committee report also found that the VoteScotland information campaign run by the Electoral Commission was not satisfactory, as was the commission's failure to flag up "warning signs" about the impending confusion among voters over changes to ballot papers.The committee report also found that the VoteScotland information campaign run by the Electoral Commission was not satisfactory, as was the commission's failure to flag up "warning signs" about the impending confusion among voters over changes to ballot papers.
"There is little value in establishing an independent Electoral Commission if it fails to act robustly to warn government of potential problems with the electoral system," it said."There is little value in establishing an independent Electoral Commission if it fails to act robustly to warn government of potential problems with the electoral system," it said.
'Lasting changes''Lasting changes'
Separate ballot papers should be in place for constituency and regional MSPs at the next vote, the committee reported.Separate ballot papers should be in place for constituency and regional MSPs at the next vote, the committee reported.
The role of electronic counting also came under fire, with the MPs finding: "There has been a severe loss of confidence in e-counting.The role of electronic counting also came under fire, with the MPs finding: "There has been a severe loss of confidence in e-counting.
"The experience of its use in the Scottish Parliament and local government elections revealed a fundamental lack of transparency.""The experience of its use in the Scottish Parliament and local government elections revealed a fundamental lack of transparency."
Until the problems are resolved, the report said it did not back the use of e-counting in future elections.Until the problems are resolved, the report said it did not back the use of e-counting in future elections.
Committee chairman Mohammad Sarwar said: "This is an opportunity for the Scotland Office to make lasting changes to restore confidence in the voting process and we would like to see them co-ordinating their actions with other government departments, as the 3 May problems are unlikely to be unique to Scotland.Committee chairman Mohammad Sarwar said: "This is an opportunity for the Scotland Office to make lasting changes to restore confidence in the voting process and we would like to see them co-ordinating their actions with other government departments, as the 3 May problems are unlikely to be unique to Scotland.
"We also wish to see more effective working practices established with the Electoral Commission, who we think failed to give voters enough warning about the potential ballot problems.""We also wish to see more effective working practices established with the Electoral Commission, who we think failed to give voters enough warning about the potential ballot problems."
The Scotland Office is to publish its formal response to the Gould report, and the consultation exercise on improving the elections to the Scottish Parliament, before the summer recess.The Scotland Office is to publish its formal response to the Gould report, and the consultation exercise on improving the elections to the Scottish Parliament, before the summer recess.
A spokesman said: "We have repeatedly said that the Scottish voter must be placed at the centre of the future election process.A spokesman said: "We have repeatedly said that the Scottish voter must be placed at the centre of the future election process.
"When the Gould report was initially published, we immediately accepted five core recommendations which will have a positive effect on the experience of voters in elections.""When the Gould report was initially published, we immediately accepted five core recommendations which will have a positive effect on the experience of voters in elections."