Forum Topic

Irregularities in the  polls

Jonathan Notley remains on the ballot papers and there are no postersor indeed sany information at the polling station to say he has withdrawn.  Given he stood to gain a few votes from people who felt strongly about his campaign,  this constitutes a fraud on the electorate of Ealing Acton,  apart from the few who may have left own the positio.  None of the officers ppresent had any idea he had done so.  It would hardly have takenmmuch to be for Ealing Council to print a few posters for the polling stations.  I presume Labour will lose votes over this rather than the other parties but this feels undemocratic.

Anne Brown ● 4143d7 Comments

Susan is right - as discussed on another thread: independents have to have worked their seats for years or be someone Like Martin Bell to actually win - so it would be wasted.The queari n must be where his votes Would come from... Which might affect the actual result.No election related posters are allowed within a certain number of feet of the polling station anyhow (Why do I retain this arcane information, dormant since 1992!)

Sara Nathan ● 4143d

It would have been a waste of a vote anyway.

Susan Kelly ● 4143d

And my final word on the subject. It may not be irregular in the legal sense of the word, but even at the races, you'd be told if a horse was not running on the day.  Imagine putting a fiver on a non-runner!

Anne Brown ● 4143d

According to the Council he is still a candidate as the date to formally withdraw was April 9

Sue Buchan ● 4143d

Well I think it is highly irregularm as people may vote for John Notley without knowing it is a waste of their time and their vote.  The council could have put up a notice informing voters.  This is especially so in a ward where it is so close to the line and a few hundred votes either way could swing things.

Anne Brown ● 4143d

Exactly so!

Sara Nathan ● 4143d

Under the RotPA, Ealing need do nothing as candidates withdraw and die all the time As long as this happens after the final date for  the publication of the final election notice (5 days before the election excluding public holidays) nothing need be done according to the information on the Electoral Commission website.If other parties lose votes then they didn't do enough to convince voters in the first place.

Nigel Brooks ● 4143d