Introduction
On 16 June 2004, the ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local
Government and the Regions Committee wrote to each of the Regional
Returning Officers and Local Returning Officers involved in the
all-postal pilots during the elections of June 2004 asking for
their observations. The letter is reproduced below.
POSTAL VOTING REPORT- PILOT FOLLOW-UP
On 20th May 2004, the ODPM Select Committee published
a report on Postal Voting. This report is available online at:
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmodpm/400/40002.htm
Following the recent all-postal pilots, the Committee
has decided to re-open its inquiry. Although the Committee is
aware that each pilot will be subject to evaluation by the Electoral
Commission, it is keen to ensure Parliamentary scrutiny is also
conducted. To this end they invite your comments on the following
questions:
GENERAL
1. Did you experience problems because the Government
was slow in publishing the necessary statutory instruments?
2. Were problems caused by the very short time
scale between close of nominations and the need to deliver postal
voting documents to electors?
3. Earlier pilots had been self selecting - i.e.
those who were keen and had the resources volunteered. Did the
fact that all-postal ballots were mandatory for these elections
cause problems with skills and resources?
4. Have you received/reported any allegations
of fraud?
PRINTING AND DISSEMINATION
5. Was there sufficient printing capacity to
cope with all-postal elections?
6. Did any of the ballot papers require re-printing?
If so, how many and why?
7. Do you have any comments to make on the performance
of the Royal Mail?
8. How many ballot papers did you:
(a) deliver by hand
(b) collect by hand?
9. How many electors do you estimate did not
receive ballot papers:
(a) by polling day
(b) the day before
(c) 5 days before?
VOTING PRACTICALITIES AND RETURNS
10. Are you aware of any practical difficulties
experienced by voters, as a result of:
(a) the need for a signed witness declaration
(b) the dimensions of the ballot envelopes
(c) complex and unclear instructions?
11. How many and what percentage of ballot papers:
(a) arrived back too late to be counted
(b) were not counted because of errors in completion
of the ballot paper or the witness declarations? What percentage
were these of the total votes cast?
12. Did all-postal voting increase turnout?
13. FOR AREAS WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY PILOTED POSTAL
VOTING IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Was the turnout this year lower than in previous
years when all-postal voting was used?
COST AND RESOURCES
14. As a result of using the all-postal system
did you need to bring in:
(a) extra staff
(b) staff on overtime
If so, at what cost?
15. What was the overall cost of the election?
16. FOR AREAS WITH EUROPEAN ELECTIONS ONLY
Was the cost greater than a traditional ballot and
if so, by how much?
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