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Voters losing out in speedy by-elections

07/10/2008

Voters in recent by-election – including the tight race for Glasgow East – may have lost out on the chance to go to the ballot box due to their overly-quick timetables, the Electoral Commission has said.

"Short timescales mean that electors have little time – in some instances only two working days – to register to vote or apply for a postal vote if they have not already done so," said Andrew Scallan, director of electoral administration and boundaries at the commission.

The commission's statement carries an implicit criticism of the government, which implemented the by-election with frantic speed for largely political reasons.

Commission spokesmen said recent by-elections in Crewe and Nantwich, Haltemprice and Howden, Henley and Glasgow East gave returning officers very little time to prepare for the polls.

They are calling for a 25-working day timetable, as opposed to the current 15, which would bring by-elections in line with local government elections.

"The current timetable also places an unnecessary burden on electoral administrators, who have very little time to undertake extensive planning and training," Mr Scallan continued.

Yesterday the date for the Glenrothes by-election was set for November 6th.

The commission's report on the elections is available here.