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Low turnout in police and crime commissioner elections | Low turnout in police and crime commissioner elections |
(35 minutes later) | |
The elections to appoint Wales' first police and crime commissioners have all been marked by voter apathy. | The elections to appoint Wales' first police and crime commissioners have all been marked by voter apathy. |
Sources said there was a polling station in Newport where no votes were cast for the Gwent commissioner. | Sources said there was a polling station in Newport where no votes were cast for the Gwent commissioner. |
The Electoral Commission has said it will investigate the low turnout across England and Wales. | |
As these are the first commissioner elections direct comparisons are not possible, but turnout is well below assembly and general elections. | As these are the first commissioner elections direct comparisons are not possible, but turnout is well below assembly and general elections. |
The head of the Electoral Commission in Wales, Kay Jenkins, said the low turnout would be of concern to anybody who cares about democracy. | |
The watchdog says it disagrees with a series of decisions by UK government. | |
The first result came from Dyfed-Powys, where Conservative Christopher Salmon won a two-horse race with Labour. | The first result came from Dyfed-Powys, where Conservative Christopher Salmon won a two-horse race with Labour. |
Alun Michael says the blame for the low turnout should be laid at the door of the UK government. | Alun Michael says the blame for the low turnout should be laid at the door of the UK government. |
He says the way the election has been held is a "disgrace". | He says the way the election has been held is a "disgrace". |
I popped out - it's very quiet here - to talk to shoppers outside the civic centre in Port Talbot and heard much the same over and over again. | I popped out - it's very quiet here - to talk to shoppers outside the civic centre in Port Talbot and heard much the same over and over again. |
People simply didn't feel well enough informed to go out and vote. Very few were really dying to know who has won. | People simply didn't feel well enough informed to go out and vote. Very few were really dying to know who has won. |
They said that they were well aware that they had a vote. They knew they could got out and vote. They just didn't have the information and didn't feel able to use that vote. | They said that they were well aware that they had a vote. They knew they could got out and vote. They just didn't have the information and didn't feel able to use that vote. |
He won with a majority of 1,114 over former Labour Welsh assembly agriculture minister Christine Gwyther. The turnout was 16.4%. | He won with a majority of 1,114 over former Labour Welsh assembly agriculture minister Christine Gwyther. The turnout was 16.4%. |
In the North Wales Police area turnout was 15.4%, ranging from 12.24% in the Wrexham area to 17.85% on Anglesey. | In the North Wales Police area turnout was 15.4%, ranging from 12.24% in the Wrexham area to 17.85% on Anglesey. |
Independent Winston Roddick, a barrister and former senior legal adviser to the Welsh assembly, won after a count of second-preference votes. | Independent Winston Roddick, a barrister and former senior legal adviser to the Welsh assembly, won after a count of second-preference votes. |
Turnout across Gwent was 14.3%. Newport council declined to name the polling station where no one voted, but BBC Wales understands it was in the Bettws ward. | Turnout across Gwent was 14.3%. Newport council declined to name the polling station where no one voted, but BBC Wales understands it was in the Bettws ward. |
Former police officer Ian Johnston, an independent candidate, beat the Labour challenger Hamish Sandison after the second preferences were counted. | Former police officer Ian Johnston, an independent candidate, beat the Labour challenger Hamish Sandison after the second preferences were counted. |
In South Wales, Wales' biggest force, counting also went to a second round, between former Labour minister Alun Michael and independent candidate Michael Baker. | In South Wales, Wales' biggest force, counting also went to a second round, between former Labour minister Alun Michael and independent candidate Michael Baker. |
Turnout across the South Wales force area was 15.1%. Of the individual council areas, Merthyr Tydfil had the lowest turnout at 11.9% and the Vale of Glamorgan the highest at 19.62% | Turnout across the South Wales force area was 15.1%. Of the individual council areas, Merthyr Tydfil had the lowest turnout at 11.9% and the Vale of Glamorgan the highest at 19.62% |
There had been warnings about low turnout throughout the campaign for the elections. | There had been warnings about low turnout throughout the campaign for the elections. |
The Prime Minister insisted that PCCs do have a mandate | |
David Cameron said: "Look, turnout was always going to be low when you are electing a new post for the first time. | |
"But remember, these police and crime commissioners are replacing organisations that weren't directly elected at all." | |
Stephen Brooks, director of the Electoral Reform Society in Wales, criticised the UK government's handling of the elections. | Stephen Brooks, director of the Electoral Reform Society in Wales, criticised the UK government's handling of the elections. |
"This election has been a comedy of errors from start to finish," he said. | "This election has been a comedy of errors from start to finish," he said. |
Former Police Minister Alun Michael, the Labour candidate in south Wales, said the way the elections had been set up had been a "disgrace." | Former Police Minister Alun Michael, the Labour candidate in south Wales, said the way the elections had been set up had been a "disgrace." |
Caerphilly MP Wayne David tweeted that after verification in his constituency, "some ballot boxes had no votes in them". | Caerphilly MP Wayne David tweeted that after verification in his constituency, "some ballot boxes had no votes in them". |
Voters went to the polls on Thursday when elections were held in all parts of England and Wales outside London. | Voters went to the polls on Thursday when elections were held in all parts of England and Wales outside London. |
The newly-created commissioners, who replace unelected police authorities, will have the power to set budgets and appoint chief constables. They will not be responsible for day-to-day operations. | The newly-created commissioners, who replace unelected police authorities, will have the power to set budgets and appoint chief constables. They will not be responsible for day-to-day operations. |
The supplementary vote system was used where there were more than two candidates, with voters marking the ballot paper with a first and second choice of candidate. | The supplementary vote system was used where there were more than two candidates, with voters marking the ballot paper with a first and second choice of candidate. |