scottish parliament elections

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 05 May 2007, 18:56

Well, I know a few confused people.

I have been told by some that as I had only put numbers 1,2, and 3 on that paper that I'd spoiled my paper.You HAD to give them all a number I was told ( not true I've checked )

Others that, like Dada, only wanted to put a cross on one side of that paper and not on the other had been told that's a spoilt paper
Anyone know the answer to that?

I saw one person leave the polling station explaining to the clerk she would have to come back with her glasses
Other folk went in and out very quickly
( I was standing blethering on the Town Hall steps for a wee while, not like me at all)

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 May 2007, 19:07

SoupDragon wrote:Well, I know a few confused people.

I have been told by some that as I had only put numbers 1,2, and 3 on that paper that I'd spoiled my paper.You HAD to give them all a number I was told ( not true I've checked )

Others that, like Dada, only wanted to put a cross on one side of that paper and not on the other had been told that's a spoilt paper
Anyone know the answer to that?

I saw one person leave the polling station explaining to the clerk she would have to come back with her glasses
Other folk went in and out very quickly
( I was standing blethering on the Town Hall steps for a wee while, not like me at all)

Soupy you say "told" a couple of times. Told by who?

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 05 May 2007, 19:35

Nobody official.
G&T in the street
One was a neighbour from along the road.
And one person said they'd heard on the radio that not filling in crosses both sides invalidated the paper

As I said I do know some confused people.

It seems not everyone is aware of how the S,T, V works

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 May 2007, 20:24

These things have to be idiot-proof or they just don't work. Quite clearly, the number of spoiled papers is proof in itself that it wasn't user-friendly enough.

A lot of people are suggesting that the Council elections should be held seperately. Experience shows, however, that this results in a much lower turnout. So you have to balance the number of people who disenfranchise themselves through not understanding the process with the number of people who won't bother to turn up to vote for a local election.

In answer to Soupdragon's question, the two different votes for directly elected candidates and the top up regional candidates were considered on their own merits. An invalid vote (or no vote) on one side of the form had no bearing on how the rest of the form was treated. A lot of commonsense was applied and the adjudicators did their best to interpret the voter's intention within the guidelines, although it has to be said that some people seemed to be looking for 8 score draws and some just appeared to write alpha-numerical digits at random.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 May 2007, 20:40

Bob Jefferson wrote: it has to be said that some people seemed to be looking for 8 score draws and some just appeared to write alpha-numerical digits at random.

LOL

Bob - from and until what times were you there? Was it Ingliston?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 May 2007, 20:57

Ingliston. I had an invite to the Thursday night count but I'm glad I decided to give that a miss. I turned up at 12 noon on Friday, which was supposed to be the start of the Council count but of course we had to wait until the Scottish Parliament count was completed. Portobello/Craigmillar was one of the last wards to be decided so it was a long day. I think we left around 6 pm.

It was an interesting and exciting experience, if ultimately disappointing from a personal point of view. I have a little bit of film, inc MacAskill's victory speech which I will post in due course.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 May 2007, 21:22

So were there people who had been there all night, still there when you turned up?

Sordid.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 05 May 2007, 21:28

Bob Jefferson wrote:

In answer to Soupdragon's question, the two different votes for directly elected candidates and the top up regional candidates were considered on their own merits. An invalid vote (or no vote) on one side of the form had no bearing on how the rest of the form was treated.

Thank you Bob. I can now tell folk they're talking mince. ( and I shall look out my"told you so" t shirt )
I have been searching the internet , unsuccessfully, for the answer.
Trust talkPorty to provide the answer.

anyone know where to get butteries?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 05 May 2007, 21:30

SoupDragon wrote:anyone know where to get butteries?

Teddygirl's freezer!!

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 05 May 2007, 21:32

Might have known that!

anywhere else?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 May 2007, 21:41

I think the Porty Labour group gave up around 4 am and grabbed a few hours sleep. Despite the glitch, I was impressed with the scanning equipment and the systems in place to deal with the indecipherable papers.

Having said that, a tannoy system in an aircraft hanger isn't the best way to impart information. The only place you could actually make it out was in the gents toilet. Well, maybe in the ladies too.

And I was expecting a gravy train buffet car. I had a cup of coffee, a danish pastry, a pint of Worthingtons and a few crisps to last me all day. Most disappointing.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 05 May 2007, 21:57

I'm glad you told me about the catering without me having to prompt you.

I can imagine the tannoy sounding a bit like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. Irritating if it's actually stuff you want to hear.

Was the pint in that hut-pub place just next door?

Once, after an all-night rave at Ingliston, I walked home to Abbeyhill.

Post by **wangi** » 05 May 2007, 22:04

SoupDragon wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:In answer to Soupdragon's question, the two different votes for directly elected candidates and the top up regional candidates were considered on their own merits. An invalid vote (or no vote) on one side of the form had no bearing on how the rest of the form was treated.
Thank you Bob. I can now tell folk they're talking mince. ( and I shall look out my"told you so" t shirt )
I have been searching the internet , unsuccessfully, for the answer.
Trust talkPorty to provide the answer.

This will also be of interest from the Electoral Commission:

Scottish Parliamentary doubtful ballots – allowed votes
Suggested examples of allowed votes are provided here. All the examples are based on previous case law or taken from the specific rules for this election.
Ultimately the decision on any particular ballot paper rests with the Returning Officer and it is for them to determine their own view of the application of the law.
Reference is made to the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules (Schedule 2 of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007).

...

Scottish Parliamentary doubtful ballots – rejected votes
Suggested examples of rejected votes are provided here. All the examples are based on previous case law or taken from the specific rules for this election.
Ultimately the decision on any particular ballot paper rests with the Returning Officer and it is for them to determine their own view of the application of the law.
Reference is made to the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules (Schedule 2 of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007).

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/f ... 6__S__.pdf

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 05 May 2007, 23:52

Dadaist wrote:So were there people who had been there all night, still there when you turned up?

Sordid.

The vote counting computer operative types got sent home from Ingliston I think between 4 and 4.30am. I'm guessing that time by the fact that the one in my home slouched in at 5am, muttered "Complete and utter shambles...count suspended...no result...computers broke...nightmare...candidates all really angry...most papers spoiled...did our best but..." and then suddenly was asleep. Whereas I was wide awake from having been woken up to be told that.

kipling · Post by **kipling** » 05 May 2007, 23:54

Bob Jefferson wrote:Scottish Elections 2007 - a disaster for Scotland, a disaster for Edinburgh and a disaster for Portobello.

Hi, Bob

I know it's a secret ballot and all that.

But oh, go on. Please tell us whom you voted for. And how did they do?

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 05 May 2007, 23:57

kipling wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:Scottish Elections 2007 - a disaster for Scotland, a disaster for Edinburgh and a disaster for Portobello.
Hi, Bob

I know it's a secret ballot and all that.

But oh, go on. Please tell us whom you voted for. And how did they do?

ali · Post by **ali** » 06 May 2007, 00:06

bearcub wrote:
kipling wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:Scottish Elections 2007 - a disaster for Scotland, a disaster for Edinburgh and a disaster for Portobello.
Hi, Bob

I know it's a secret ballot and all that.

But oh, go on. Please tell us whom you voted for. And how did they do?

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 06 May 2007, 00:46

Dadaist wrote: Once, after an all-night rave at Ingliston, I walked home to Abbeyhill.

Did you remember anything of the walk the next day?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 05:46

Jamesie wrote:
Dadaist wrote: Once, after an all-night rave at Ingliston, I walked home to Abbeyhill.
Did you remember anything of the walk the next day?

Corstorphine. I still hate Corstorphine to this day.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 May 2007, 09:21

kipling wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:Scottish Elections 2007 - a disaster for Scotland, a disaster for Edinburgh and a disaster for Portobello.
Hi, Bob

I know it's a secret ballot and all that.

But oh, go on. Please tell us whom you voted for. And how did they do?

I'm glad you asked. In the SP Election I voted SNP and in the Council Election I voted Gerry Kerr 1, Archie Burns 2, Stephen Hawkins 3.

And my name is Cleopas. Seriously though, I can't tell you. As you say it's supposed to be a secret.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 May 2007, 10:12

Nevermind,Bob, we may have a big puddock as First Minister, but it can only be downhill from here for the SNP. I hope they savour the protest vote which has brought them success at the ballot box as it will be shortlived.
Meanwhile, I can't wait for all students to get grants, class sizes to be slashed overnight, Trident to be scrapped, my tax bill to be reduced dramatically and for pink elephants to come dancing down Portobello High Street.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 May 2007, 10:26

What about ponies? Weren't we promised ponies?

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 06 May 2007, 10:40

Bob Jefferson wrote:What about ponies? Weren't we promised ponies?

Send for a doctor - Bob's obviously still delirious at the loss of Edinburgh East

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 May 2007, 10:44

Bob Jefferson wrote:What about ponies? Weren't we promised ponies?

No problem. One of the SNP's priorities is More Scots in better paid jobs so it'll be ponies all round.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 May 2007, 10:56

Excellent. Now I just need some Common Good land to graze it on until SNP get booted out in 2011.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 11:16

marya - i would never vote for the nats even if they are ok on war and trident stuff - but i want to judge them on what they do - your prediction may well be spot on but its just that . Sorry about punctuation posting from phone

kipling · Post by **kipling** » 06 May 2007, 11:25

Bob Jefferson wrote:Scottish Elections 2007 - a disaster for Scotland, a disaster for Edinburgh and a disaster for Portobello.

C'mon, guys. If it was that bad, one of the newspapers would have said something.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 11:49

Labour candidate may challenge Cunninghame North

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6629093.stm

The nat guy got in by 48 votes!

This might get like Florida!

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 06 May 2007, 12:34

Dadaist wrote: This might get like Florida!

Nah - the grapes tend to be a bit sweeter in Florida

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 May 2007, 14:43

Dadaist wrote:So were there people who had been there all night, still there when you turned up?

Sordid.

No they were sent home early Friday am to come back at 12 noon Friday.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 06 May 2007, 14:44

Bob Jefferson wrote: And I was expecting a gravy train buffet car. I had a cup of coffee, a danish pastry, a pint of Worthingtons and a few crisps to last me all day. Most disappointing.

At least you got the option of a drink, dry count in Glasgow

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 06 May 2007, 15:14

Sandra wrote:
Dadaist wrote:So were there people who had been there all night, still there when you turned up?

Sordid.
No they were sent home early Friday am to come back at 12 noon Friday.

Sounds reasonable. I loved it when Sarah Boyack got interviewed at tea-time on Friday - every answer she gave included the phrase "get some sleep" or "getting some sleep".

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 06 May 2007, 16:48

Dadaist wrote:Labour candidate may challenge Cunninghame North

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6629093.stm

The nat guy got in by 48 votes!

This might get like Florida!

This could run for a while, and run, and run, and run....

Can imagine that, if a recount or such is ordered, that the SNP and others would then ask for recounts in other 'close' calls.

Had to laugh at a quote from a Glasgow Labour 'insider' in today's SOS who said that the "vast majority" of discounted votes "meant" to vote for Labour.

Not only a Labour party member, but a mind-reader too!

However, even he couldn't beat a rant from a caller on Talk 107 yesterday about how all the discounted votes must have been for the SNP, as "only idiotic morons would vote for 'Abdul' (his words) Salmond and the SNP". Something about Salmond being a traitor to the UK and such too..... double

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 May 2007, 19:55

Jamesie wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:What about ponies? Weren't we promised ponies?
Send for a doctor - Bob's obviously still delirious at the loss of Edinburgh East

No he's not Jamesie. We were promised ponies to go with the lovely 'school in the park' . I think we're getting bunnies and unicorns too

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 May 2007, 21:43

Epykat wrote:
Jamesie wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:What about ponies? Weren't we promised ponies?
Send for a doctor - Bob's obviously still delirious at the loss of Edinburgh East
No he's not Jamesie. We were promised ponies to go with the lovely 'school in the park' . I think we're getting bunnies and unicorns too

If you recall, the ponies were part of Gary's Magical Kingdom.