Middlesbrough Council - News Forum - Setting a light to the News

did the ballot papers contain serial numbers?
did previous election ballot papers contain serial numbers?
did the previous election unsealed ballot boxes move from public view for a number of hours?
did the Cleveland Police contingent at the previous election remain for the duration or did they also leave for a number of hours?

answering these questions could help

http://middlesbroughcouncil.com/forum/v ... p?f=8&t=43

Hi Deckard,

Am I correct in saying that there has never been any denials?

Tosha

AHSOT1 wrote:Hi Deckard,

Am I correct in saying that there has never been any denials?

Tosha

Never heard a single one.
And the one candidate I know personally who stood in that election has repeated the tales in public at a council member attended meeting and challenged them to deny it and call the person a liar.

Didn't happen - though there twere two other caniddates and several pobservers in attendance who made their presence known, whilst awaiting the denial

The complaints stayed local when they should have gone to the electoral commission straight away - a massive failing, caused by naiveity and the inability to accept how corrupt the party machine is in this town. The belief in a fair shake lasted several months before dying an ignominious death.



There is an unrelated matter I have been told about that will involve the local government ombundsman, it will be interesting to see if that gets any publicity.

Hi Borobot,

See the following.

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/_ ... -model.pdf

As I read it at Appendix E

Count flow chart, I have the distinct impression that one the boxes are opened they must be counted to a result?
If as is being claimed in this forum and elsewhere, the ballot boxes were opened, the verifications taken place, then ballot papers were put bacjk in boxes (Re-Sealed?) and placed elsewhere, prior to a later opening and count, seems to me to be an irregularity?

1. Can anyone confirm that the boxes were opened and ballot papers accessed after receipt from polling stations?
2. Can anyone confirm that ballot papers were put back into ballot boxes and those boxes were placed elsewhere for a later count?
3. Can anyone confirm that after the seals were broken, the ballot boxes were re-sealed for a later count process and as per ITEM 2.?

If these elements apply, then as I read the count procedure process flow chart, items 2 and 3, should not have been carried out and/or the count should have been made straight after the box seals were opened and the tally counts were completed!
OR have I gotten this wrong?

It is not the first time such questions have been raised.!
Similar events occurred during the 2007 count procedures, this in addition to a suspension of a Middlesbrough (Labour) Ward candidate selection process!?
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... z1Lv0mMPX1

Was there any follow up to this event?

Tosha