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Poverty linked to spoiled ballots | Poverty linked to spoiled ballots |
(1 day later) | |
A study into the Scottish election voting fiasco has found the highest proportion of rejected constituency votes came in the most deprived areas. | A study into the Scottish election voting fiasco has found the highest proportion of rejected constituency votes came in the most deprived areas. |
The probe, by the University of Strathclyde, was triggered by the chaos which saw more than 140,000 spoiled papers in the May poll. | The probe, by the University of Strathclyde, was triggered by the chaos which saw more than 140,000 spoiled papers in the May poll. |
It also found that more votes were discounted in areas where there were a larger number of list candidates. | It also found that more votes were discounted in areas where there were a larger number of list candidates. |
The Electoral Commission has already launched an inquiry into the problems. | The Electoral Commission has already launched an inquiry into the problems. |
The Strathclyde report said a total of 85,643 constituency and 60,464 list votes were rejected on election night. | The Strathclyde report said a total of 85,643 constituency and 60,464 list votes were rejected on election night. |
That figure was a massive increase on the 15,000 spoiled ballots in the first Holyrood election in 1999. | That figure was a massive increase on the 15,000 spoiled ballots in the first Holyrood election in 1999. |
READ THE REPORT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/25_06_07_rejectedballots.pdf">University of Strathclyde study in full [2MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
The study, carried out by the university's department of government, claimed to have uncovered "distinct and disturbing evidence" into what went wrong. | The study, carried out by the university's department of government, claimed to have uncovered "distinct and disturbing evidence" into what went wrong. |
It found that more rejections came in areas with a greater degree of social deprivation. It pointed out that 633 votes were discounted in the Stirling constituency, but the figure rose to more than 2,000 in Glasgow Shettleston. | It found that more rejections came in areas with a greater degree of social deprivation. It pointed out that 633 votes were discounted in the Stirling constituency, but the figure rose to more than 2,000 in Glasgow Shettleston. |
Other problems, the report added, came as a consequence of altering ballot design to deal with larger numbers of candidates standing on the regional list. | Other problems, the report added, came as a consequence of altering ballot design to deal with larger numbers of candidates standing on the regional list. |
Prof James Mitchell, who carried out the study with Dr Christopher Carman, said: "No constituency was immune from the rejected ballot problem - it was pervasive and infected all Scottish constituencies. | Prof James Mitchell, who carried out the study with Dr Christopher Carman, said: "No constituency was immune from the rejected ballot problem - it was pervasive and infected all Scottish constituencies. |
"We found the greater the degree of social deprivation in a constituency, the higher the rate of rejected ballots. | "We found the greater the degree of social deprivation in a constituency, the higher the rate of rejected ballots. |
"This finding may highlight a need for a greater degree of clarification of the voting system prior to large-scale changes to ensure everyone knows how to cast their ballots properly." | "This finding may highlight a need for a greater degree of clarification of the voting system prior to large-scale changes to ensure everyone knows how to cast their ballots properly." |
Public confidence | Public confidence |
Some of the problems may have stemmed from the decision to introduce a single-paper ballot design which included both the regional list and first-past-the-post votes. | Some of the problems may have stemmed from the decision to introduce a single-paper ballot design which included both the regional list and first-past-the-post votes. |
On the regional list vote, Prof Mitchell added: "It appears that as the number of parties increased, the ballot papers became pressed for space, leading to fewer and less clear instructions on how to vote. | On the regional list vote, Prof Mitchell added: "It appears that as the number of parties increased, the ballot papers became pressed for space, leading to fewer and less clear instructions on how to vote. |
"Our research indicates the different rules or ballot design used in different regions had a very clear and distinct influence on the number of rejected ballots." | "Our research indicates the different rules or ballot design used in different regions had a very clear and distinct influence on the number of rejected ballots." |
A copy of the study's findings has now been sent to the Electoral Commission, which appointed international elections expert Ron Gould to head up its review. | A copy of the study's findings has now been sent to the Electoral Commission, which appointed international elections expert Ron Gould to head up its review. |
The Strathclyde report's authors said action was needed to restore public confidence in the Scottish election system. | The Strathclyde report's authors said action was needed to restore public confidence in the Scottish election system. |
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