This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8662554.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Clegg apology to queuing voters | Clegg apology to queuing voters |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has apologised to voters who have been waiting in long queues at a polling station in his Sheffield constituency. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has apologised to voters who have been waiting in long queues at a polling station in his Sheffield constituency. |
| Mr Clegg went to the polling station in Ranmoor in Sheffield Hallam at about 1900 BST where voters had been queuing for more than three hours. | Mr Clegg went to the polling station in Ranmoor in Sheffield Hallam at about 1900 BST where voters had been queuing for more than three hours. |
| Many of those people queuing were unable to vote before polls closed. | Many of those people queuing were unable to vote before polls closed. |
| Police were called to move people who staged sit-in protests at three polling stations in the city. | Police were called to move people who staged sit-in protests at three polling stations in the city. |
| Officers were called to a polling station at Bents Green Methodist Church - near Mr Clegg's house - where several people were protesting after being unable to vote. | Officers were called to a polling station at Bents Green Methodist Church - near Mr Clegg's house - where several people were protesting after being unable to vote. |
| Officers were also called to Ranmoor, where about 200 people were turned away from voting, and a polling station in Woodseats to move voters who were refusing to leave. | |
| The Electoral Commission said it would be undertaking a "thorough review" of what had happened in constituencies where people were unable to vote. | The Electoral Commission said it would be undertaking a "thorough review" of what had happened in constituencies where people were unable to vote. |
| John Mothersole, Sheffield City Council chief executive and returning officer, said: "We got this wrong and I would like to apologise. | John Mothersole, Sheffield City Council chief executive and returning officer, said: "We got this wrong and I would like to apologise. |
| John Mothersole said the council was "caught out" by high turnouts | John Mothersole said the council was "caught out" by high turnouts |
| "We were faced with a difficult situation with the numbers of people, and a large amount of students turning up to vote without polling cards. | "We were faced with a difficult situation with the numbers of people, and a large amount of students turning up to vote without polling cards. |
| "This made the administration process of ensuring the correct person was given a ballot paper much longer. | "This made the administration process of ensuring the correct person was given a ballot paper much longer. |
| "The only remedy, which we could not take, was to extend the voting times." | "The only remedy, which we could not take, was to extend the voting times." |
| Dr Matthew Winter said he was turned away from the city's Eccleshall Parish Church polling station at 2200 BST. | Dr Matthew Winter said he was turned away from the city's Eccleshall Parish Church polling station at 2200 BST. |
| "I am frustrated I have not been able to vote. | "I am frustrated I have not been able to vote. |
| "I think it's wrong there were not enough people there, there were only three people there who were processing votes and giving out ballot papers." | "I think it's wrong there were not enough people there, there were only three people there who were processing votes and giving out ballot papers." |
| Boundary changes | Boundary changes |
| Former Hillsborough MP Helen Jackson said the situation was disgraceful and could result in a legal challenge if results were close. | Former Hillsborough MP Helen Jackson said the situation was disgraceful and could result in a legal challenge if results were close. |
| BBC reporter Tom Ingall described the scenes at Ranmoor as "extraordinary". | BBC reporter Tom Ingall described the scenes at Ranmoor as "extraordinary". |
| Counting is now under way after polling stations closed in South Yorkshire's 14 general election constituencies. | Counting is now under way after polling stations closed in South Yorkshire's 14 general election constituencies. |
| Boundary changes have seen two newly-created seats of Penistone and Stocksbridge, and Wentworth and Dearne. | Boundary changes have seen two newly-created seats of Penistone and Stocksbridge, and Wentworth and Dearne. |
| The Sheffield Attercliffe seat has now been renamed Sheffield South East. Sheffield Brightside and Sheffield Hillsborough have become one seat. | The Sheffield Attercliffe seat has now been renamed Sheffield South East. Sheffield Brightside and Sheffield Hillsborough have become one seat. |
| The changes were part of a reorganisation by the Boundary Commission for England. | The changes were part of a reorganisation by the Boundary Commission for England. |