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Scottish Parliament election

Election 07 graphic

Lamenting insider insight

  • Brian Taylor
  • 3 May 07, 11:39 PM

Just spotted a face in the crowd at the Aberdeen count.

Derek Barrie of the Scottish LibDems.

Derek may not be familiar to all of you - but he's an astute analyst of electoral politics.

In fact, I've relied on him - and others like him in other parties - for insider intelligence on what's happening at counts.

He and the others will struggle now, given that it's machines rather than people counting the papers.

It's hard to peep over a machine's shoulder!

Pity. I'll miss that insight.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 11:46 PM on 03 May 2007,
  • Dave Christie wrote:

Wishaw result should be interesting.

Also money in hand for you Brian if you sneak the word Bridie into your next TV appearance lols :D

  • 2.
  • At 11:56 PM on 03 May 2007,
  • Kev wrote:

Aye, gone are they days of standing over the count and doing count samples, a shame really because it was all part of the fun of election night.

Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act...

"(4) Every person attending the proceedings in connection with the issue or the
receipt of ballot papers for persons voting by post shall maintain and aid in
maintaining the secrecy of the voting and shall not –
(a) except for some purpose authorised by law, communicate, before the poll
is closed, to any person any information obtained at those proceedings
as to the official mark;"

:(

I think the old way of standing over the counter is gone for a reason.

As the computer counts these ballot papers, the polling station can give an instant idea of how things are going, if asked.

We just have to watch out for the 'electronic fixing of counts'.

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