Patty Windsor is on BBC tv just now telling the talking head how she was approached, unsolicited, by the information officer regarding her vote. She was told to put an X in the box of the candidate that she wanted in the STV ballot paper. In doing this, Patty and her husband's votes became invalidated and contributed to the estimated 100,000 spoiled ballots that have made these election results dubious to say the least. An independent investigation will apparently be held. If it is as effective as the various 'independent' investigations commissioned by this Labour government then I won't be holding my breath. What clown thought it was a good idea to hold the two elections simultaneously? As Scottish Cooperative Wholesale Republic says, not fit for purpose. (If my deduction skills are up to scratch that is.)
I propose that the spoiled ballots are separated into FPTP and STV and analysed. If it transpires that a significant majority, if as I suspect, are the STV ballots then the STV-based election should be re-held. Democracy and voting are too important to leave 100,000 rightful voters without a say in the political process, especially when there is all the bleating about how the election suffered from a low turnout. Congratulations Electoral Commission et al, you've just succeeded in making it lower. Well done.
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You should write a letter to the paper about it.
Your style is like that of a Colonel Blimp from the 'Shires' - pompous in extremis.
I had considered writing a letter about it but I prefer to keep my letter-writing to more frivolous issues.
Look
http://www.gentheoryrubbish.com/archives/001096.html
That's quite incredible. Do you reckon Frank Dobson is still counting the votes even now?
Combing his beard.
Of the main parties only the Conservatives objected to having the votes on the same day (according to Radio Scotland).
Ooh, if they were right about that, what else might they be right about!?
Fuck all.
http://modies.blogspot.com/2007/05/ballot-confusion-for-majoritarianism.html
Will, I think he's absolutely right. I also think that Alexander took a calculated risk as he thought, along with many others, that Labour were going to get a kicking. Thus, if any degree of doubt could be cast on the results they could build on that. Or something.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.”
Honestly ... put an X here, another here, and list you preferences 1 to whatever here.
This may have been social engineering by Alexander, but I reckon he lacks the wherewithall to execute it quite so effectively.
Despite the fact the Labour lost Cunninghame North (and therefore, effectively, the election) by 48 votes, any action they could take to cast doubt on the result would require the Labour Party to demonstrate that their supporters were disproportionately disenfranchised by the, apparent, complexity of the ballot papers.
In doing this they would be saying that you average Labour voter is less able to follow, even the most, basic instructions (i.e. is more stupid) than the average SNP voter.
And we all know that's pish. Right?! ;-)
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