Agenda item

To consider an update on the Local Elections

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 23 to 30, which gave an update on the running of local elections within the Borough.

The report outlined the delivery of the combined elections held in May 2021 within the context of a complex backdrop of significant public health restrictions which presented complex new challenges for all those involved in the electoral process. The report outlined a number of actions derived from the analysis of learning from the running of the May 2021 elections. These actions included the undertaking of an interim polling places review of selected polling places to be reported to Council in January 2022, and planning to hold the verification and count for the May 2022 elections during the daytime on Friday 6^th May 2022.

Andrew Moulton (Assistant Director – Governance) attended the meeting to answer Member questions.

During the ensuing discussions, Members raised the following points and queries:

·           The Committee were unanimous in their thanks for the elections team and wider staff network for the successful running of the May 2021 elections under difficult conditions.

·           Whilst being effective for the purposes of delivering a Covid-secure polling day, the reduction of polling places available to the residents of Norreys Ward to a single polling place would not be ideal going forwards. Was this planned to revert to multiple polling places for future elections? Officer response – This change was planned as a one-off change for those set of elections, and the change was planned to revert back to multiple polling places all being well.

·           A number of Members commented that the daytime verification and count worked well, and they hoped that this could continue going forwards.

·           How likely was it that for the elections due to be held in May 2022 that none of the polling places due to be used would be a school? Officer response – There were only four schools within the Borough which were used as polling stations, and a considerable amount of work had been done over previous years to reduce the Borough’s reliance on schools as polling places. The view was to speak with Ward Members and take a report to Council in early 2022. It had always been the intention to not disrupt the education of school children as a consequence of running elections wherever possible.

·           Had marquees within the school grounds or playing fields been considered as an option instead of using the school building itself? Officer response – This had been an option considered for the May 2021 elections, however for a variety of reasons this did not work out on this occasion.

·           It was commented that some school buildings were the most obvious public building within a Ward and therefore merited consideration for use as a polling place.

·           There had been a large increase in the numbers of people choosing to vote by post for the elections held in May 2021, which was good to see. Some residents had become confused regarding the instructions for how to vote by post and it would be worthwhile to have a further look at the instructions issued.

·           How many postal votes had arrived after polling day? Officer response – These figures would be circulated to Members of the Committee. On a related note, a significant number of people choose to hand deliver their postal vote to their polling station on polling day.

·           What were the approximate percentage increases in the numbers of people choosing to vote by post, and how many of these were applications to permanently vote by post? Officer response – There had been an approximate increase of between thirty and forty percent of people choosing to vote by post. The numbers of people who registered to permanently vote by post would be sought and circulated to the Committee.

·           Was there a significant percentage of spoilt ballot papers, or ballot papers that could not be counted, as they had not been correctly filled in as a result of the individual being confused by the postal vote instructions? Officer response – There had likely not been any marked increase, and the instructions were very prescribed which gave the returning officer very little room to edit the instructions. Most errors were likely due to an increase in people voting by post for the first time.

·           With the Government proposing to require voters to produce identification documents at polling stations, what checks and balances were carried out for a postal voter? Officer response – All postal votes are subject to strict checks against their original postal vote application form.

·           Relating to the final paragraph of agenda page 30, what was a digital imprint, what must be done with them, and what was organic material? Officer response – This was centred around political campaigners specifically, but a more detailed written answer would be provided.

·           It was agreed that the figures relating to the number of postal votes received after polling day would be sought and circulated to the Committee. In addition, the figures relating to the numbers of postal votes rejected would also be sought and circulated to the Committee.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Andrew Moulton be thanked for attending the meeting;

2)     The figures relating to the number of postal votes received after polling day for the May 2021 elections be circulated to the Committee;

3)     The figures relating to the number of postal votes rejected for the May 2021 elections be circulated to the Committee;

4)     The figures relating to the number of individuals who registered to permanently vote by post in the period leading up to the May 2021 elections be circulated to the Committee;

5)     A written answer be provided relating to the query about digital imprints and organic material;

6)     An item regarding the implications of the proposed Elections Bill return to the Committee when the Bill was further progressed.