Experience of the Scottish elections

About this book

On 3 May 2007, combined elections were held in Scotland, electing members to the Scottish Parliament and all 32 of Scotland's local councils. The number of spoilt ballots cast in these elections was unusually high, and difficulties with the electronic counting machines led to the count being suspended in some constituencies. The Electoral Commission engaged Ron Gould CM to conduct an independent assessment of the elections. This report examines the findings of the Gould Report and its recommendations, some of which have already been accepted in principle by the Scotland Office and by the Scottish Executive, including holding the Scottish Parliament and local government elections at different times and producing separate regional and constituency ballot papers for the Scottish Parliament elections. Evidence strongly suggests that there are deep problems with the way elections are administered, both in Scotland and across the UK, which, if left unaddressed, could again create difficulties in the future. Any changes to the way in which elections are carried out must be accompanied by rigorous research and testing; the absence of such research and testing was a major failing that led to the problems of 3 May. There were failings on the part of the Scotland Office, where lengthy delays disrupted election planning and led to weak contingency arrangements. The Electoral Commission did not do enough to warn of potential problems with the ballot. The use of e-counting has been subject to particular criticism. Although electronic counting may have the potential to produce results more quickly, in these elections it did not operate efficiently or transparently. Any future proposals must place the needs of the voter and the interests of transparency far above the limitations of any given technology.