Delayed election count row goes on.
CONTROVERSIAL plans to delay the election count in Knaresborough and Harrogate have set the council on a collision course with Westminster.
The count is set to take place a full day after the rest of the country to ensure that staff are not overworked, or at risk of making mistakes.
However, the decision has been met with some incredulity, with some saying that delaying the count would dampen interest in politics locally and leave Harrogate and Knaresborough lagging behind.
But now, changes to the law are being considered at Westminster which could force tellers to start the count within four hours of the polls closing.
Returning officer, Harrogate Borough Council chief executive
Wallace Sampson, said he is awaiting the results to see if a change of policy is to be brought about.
"The amendment is passing through Parliament at the present time, and it's not confirmed yet," he said.
"We will wait for the amendment to be made, and see what that says.
"There is also guidance to be issued by the Electoral Commission, which I will take into account," he added.
"Once I have got both the final amendment and the guidance I will be able to look again at this, and make a decision."
Mr Sampson had said in January that the count would be delayed until the day after the General Election.
This would mean, with the election expected on Thursday, May 6, Harrogate would reveal its results on Friday, May 7.
Mr Sampson said he was acting to "safeguard democracy" by ensuring every vote was dealt with properly. He said staff should not be forced to work through the night counting votes after manning polling stations from 7am to 10pm, in case mistakes were made.
But some residents said they were amazed by the move, which would undermine democracy and rob election night of its traditional drama.
Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) for the three main parties, Conservative Andrew Jones, Liberal Democrat Claire Kelley, and Labour's Kevin McNerney, all said they hoped to see the election count run through the night.
With changes to the law being rushed through Parliament, the council may now be forced to start the count within four hours of polls closing.
An amendment to the Constitutional Reform Bill has been approved by the House of Commons, and is set to go before the House of Lords for a second reading on March 24, before becoming law.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Harrogate
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
