Memorandum by Sunderland City Council
(PVF 07)
GENERAL
1. There were no problems because of the
publishing of the necessary Statutory Instruments. However, because
Sunderland City Council had been subject to a Periodic Electoral
Review resulting in all-out Local Government elections there was
little opportunity for the Local Authority to publish awareness
material in advance because of the short timescale following the
meeting of the Pilot Order.
2. Altering the election timetable by two
days gave sufficient time from Close of Nomination for printing
ballot packs and for their distribution to electors.
3. The City Council had operated an all-postal
pilot at the 2003 Local Government elections and Members were
keen to continue and participate in an all-postal pilot this year.
Sunderland has a track record in managing elections effectively
and the skills resources were available.
4. I have not had any allegations of fraud
reported to me as Returning Officer nor am I aware of any allegations
reported directly to the Police.
PRINTING AND
DISSEMINATION
5. Sunderland City Council has in-house
printing facilities and was able to cope with the all-postal elections
as it had done previously.
6. There were no ballot papers that required
re-printing.
7. In our experience the performance of
Royal Mail in the region was to the same high standard as at last
year's all-postal pilot both in the delivery and return of postal
ballots.
8. (a) 1,271 ballot papers were delivered
by hand to student accommodation, houses and multiple occupation
and to electors requiring assistance.
(b) A total of 5,997 ballot paper envelopes
were collected at Assistance and Delivery Points.
9. A total of 45 ballot papers were issued
to electors who claimed not to have received their original ballot
paper.
VOTING PRACTICALITIES
AND RETURNS
10. (a) There were 3,058 Declarations of
Identity returned to electors because they were unsigned. Of that
total 1,965 were returned and processed leaving 1,093 outstanding
which was 1.27% of returned votes.
(c)
As there were joint Local Government elections
in Sunderland the instructions to the electors that they had three
votes in one election and one in another were always going to
make the voting process more complicated. Anecdotal evidence confirms
the voters did have difficulties with the combined election and
the requirement to cast a valid vote.
11. (a) No ballot papers were received by
the authority on Friday 11 June.
(b)
In addition to the outstanding unsigned Declarations
of Identity 1,088 ballot papers were returned without a declaration
(1.26% of the returned votes) and 726 declarations were received
without a ballot paper (0.84% of the returned votes).
12. All-postal at the European Parliamentary
Election increased the turnout from 19% to 40.5%.
13. The turnout for the Local Government
election in 2003 with one third of the Council to be elected was
46.46% compared with 40.5% for this year's Local Government elections.
(This compares to 22.76% turnout in the 2002 (traditional election).
COST AND
RESOURCES
14. Additional staffing was required to
scan returns for Polling Progress Information and for home visits
and it is anticipated that these additional costs will be met
within the Fees and Charges Order.
15. As there are a number of functions that
have to be divided between the Fees and Charges Order and the
Local Authority it is not possible at this time to give an overall
cost of the election.
16. Sunderland conducted joint Local Government
and European Elections.
I trust the above is helpful. Please don't hesitate
to let us know if you require any further information.
Ged Fitzgerald
Chief Executive & Regional Returning Officer
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