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Concern over spoilt voting papers Elections marred by vote problems
(about 1 hour later)
An unprecedented number of spoilt ballot papers recorded across the country has prompted questions over Scotland's voting systems. Scotland's parliamentary and local council elections have been affected by a catalogue of problems.
Thousands of papers have failed to make the final count, with fears that the national figure could exceed 100,000. An unprecedented number of spoilt ballot papers have been recorded across the country, with fears that the national figure could exceed 100,000.
In Airdrie and Shotts, Labour's majority of 1,446 was less than the 1,536 rejected ballots. Concerns have been raised about the decision to stage the two elections on the same day under different systems.
Politicians, including SNP leader Alex Salmond, have criticised the voting arrangements. There have also been problems with a new automated counting system at a number of counts.
Bad weather affected the count in the Western Isles and problems with a boat from Arran hampered the process in Cunninghame North.
All of this followed earlier problems with the postal voting system which left many without their chance to have a say in the elections.
Send us your views on the spoilt papersSend us your views on the spoilt papers
There were 1,850 spoilt papers in Glasgow Baillieston and 1,736 in the city's Anniesland constituency.
Voters were presented with two ballot papers and two voting systems - one for the Holyrood elections and the other for local authority elections - the latter under the new Single Transferable Vote system.Voters were presented with two ballot papers and two voting systems - one for the Holyrood elections and the other for local authority elections - the latter under the new Single Transferable Vote system.
BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor said confusion over the new STV system could be having an impact on the level of rejected votes. From the first results there was evidence of a huge number of spoilt papers, with suspicion falling on arrangements which may have confused many voters.
REJECTED PAPERS Airdrie and Shotts 1,536Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 803Dumfries 1,006Dundee East 913Dundee West 978Glasgow Anniesland 1,736Glasgow Baillieston 1,850Glasgow Kelvin 1,195Motherwell and Wishaw 970 class="" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6622595, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6622500/', nbram: 1,nbwm: 1,bbwm: 1,bbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6620000/newsid_6622500?redirect=6622595.stm&news=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1" target="_blank">Salmond attacks voting system The returning officer at the Glasgow Shettleston count said there had been 2,035 spoilt papers, while in Airdrie and Shotts, Labour's majority of 1,446 was less than the 1,536 rejected ballots.
He said: "The level is running way ahead of past outcomes. But don't blame the electronic counting - at least, that's the view of the company who supplied the counting machines. They insist their system is working." There were 1,850 spoilt papers in Glasgow Baillieston and 1,736 in the city's Anniesland constituency.
During his acceptance speech as the new MSP for the Gordon constituency, Mr Salmond criticised the voting arrangements and also earlier problems with postal voting. The counts in Edinburgh, Eastwood, and Strathkelvin and Bearsden have been suspended until later on Friday because of problems with the electronic voting system.
He said: ""The postal voting arrangements for this election across Scotland were totally inadequate. The problem at the Strathkelvin and Bearsden count occured when the computer system could not validate the votes that had been counted so far.
BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor described the situation as a "disgrace".
REJECTED PAPERS Airdrie and Shotts 1,536Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 803Dumfries 1,006Dundee East 913Dundee West 978Glasgow Anniesland 1,736Glasgow Baillieston 1,850Glasgow Kelvin 1,195Inverness East 1,249Motherwell and Wishaw 970Shettleston 2,035 Salmond attacks system
During his acceptance speech as the new MSP for the Gordon constituency, SNP leader Alex Salmond criticised the voting arrangements and also earlier problems with postal voting.
He said: "The postal voting arrangements for this election across Scotland were totally inadequate.
"It is also the case that the decision to conduct an STV election at the same time as a first-past-the-post ballot for the Scottish Parliament was deeply mistaken."It is also the case that the decision to conduct an STV election at the same time as a first-past-the-post ballot for the Scottish Parliament was deeply mistaken.
"As a direct result, tens of thousands of votes across Scotland have been discounted. That is totally unacceptable in a democratic society.""As a direct result, tens of thousands of votes across Scotland have been discounted. That is totally unacceptable in a democratic society."
National advice
David Henderson, who worked as an information officer at Thornwood Primary School in the Glasgow Kelvin constituency, said he had "no doubt" that the decision to hold two elections, under different voting systems, on the same day, had led to the high number of spoilt votes.David Henderson, who worked as an information officer at Thornwood Primary School in the Glasgow Kelvin constituency, said he had "no doubt" that the decision to hold two elections, under different voting systems, on the same day, had led to the high number of spoilt votes.
Counting machines
In a response to BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor's blog, he wrote: "I would say 60% of people coming into our polling station were unsure of how to vote.In a response to BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor's blog, he wrote: "I would say 60% of people coming into our polling station were unsure of how to vote.
"I'm sure the electoral commission will find that spoilt ballots were due to either to 'x's' or '1's' and '2's' on the wrong ballot paper.""I'm sure the electoral commission will find that spoilt ballots were due to either to 'x's' or '1's' and '2's' on the wrong ballot paper."
Alex Donnelly, a voter in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency, said many voters had been told to fold their ballot papers despite national advice to the contrary.Alex Donnelly, a voter in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency, said many voters had been told to fold their ballot papers despite national advice to the contrary.
Toby Ballion, from DRS, the company that operates the electronic counting machines, said the large number of spoilt ballots was not caused by his equipment.Toby Ballion, from DRS, the company that operates the electronic counting machines, said the large number of spoilt ballots was not caused by his equipment.
He called for the Scottish Executive to look at the way the ballot papers were designed.He called for the Scottish Executive to look at the way the ballot papers were designed.