Late ballot papers and 'interference' investigated

9:10am Thursday 8th May 2008

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Controversy beset the elections across Barnet leading to allegations of foul play last week.

Ballot papers arrived late and election officials gave inappropriate advice to voters, according to some residents taking part in the London-wide elections.

One voter claimed up to 12 people were directed into a room where they received an explanation of the process of tactical voting.

The allegation of interference, which has been referred to the police by Barnet Council, could be treated as a criminal offence if found to be true.

Jacqui Hobson, a resident of the borough, claims a presiding officer gave a ten-minute talk about how to use the forms and direct votes.

She said: "Usually polling stations are quiet, and the only thing you are asked is your name and address, but a lot of people looked shocked we were being spoken to like we were five-years-old.

"We live in a democratic society, and it didn't seem like that. I didn't think people were allowed to influence in that way. The votes from there should be considered null and void."

A council spokesman said: "A complaint has been received by our electoral services team relating to the conduct of a presiding officer on May 1.

"As this is potentially a criminal matter, we are unable to comment further prior to any potential police investigation."

Barnet police confirmed the allegation had been reported but were unable to say what action had been taken.

In Friern Barnet, some residents said they were unable to vote between 7pm and 8pm because of a lack of ballot papers at the polling station in Goldsmith Road.

Bob Pearson, who was conducting an exit poll, said voters reported papers running out on one side of the polling station. He said voters were told the remaining papers could not be divided out because they were already registered to an address.

He added: "I spoke to various people going in and they were furious to lose their democratic right.

"If people from one area were unable to vote, they shouldn't have let the other side of the road continue voting."

Conservative ward councillor for Coppetts, Kate Salinger, said: "I find it unbelievable that in 2008 the required number of ballot papers were not at the polling station.

"We were trying to get people out to vote and, when we heard they were not able to, we couldn't believe it."

A council spokesman admitted the station was down to 100 papers, but said they had not received any complaints from people unable to vote.

He added: "The returning officer became aware there weren't enough ballots delivered and ordered more, but at no point did they run out."

Residents in Mill Hill had been made to wait earlier in the day after ballot papers failed to turn up to some polling stations on time.

Five polling stations were without the required papers for up to 20 minutes after the elections began at 7am.

A council spokesman said there was a problem on Wednesday night with the automated system for allocating the borough's 175,000 ballot papers.

The allocation had missed 20 polling stations, meaning the process had to be carried out manually by the electoral registration team.

The spokesman said the team worked tirelessly throughout the night to ensure all 160 polling stations opened on time, but added: "Unfortunately, a handful of polling stations did not receive their ballot papers until some minutes after 7am and we sincerely apologise to those voters affected."

The five polling stations affected were Mill Hill East Station, Dollis Infants School, Barnet Impact, St Paul's Church Hall and Courtland JMI School, which was last to have its papers delivered at 7.21am.