Vote Count On Election Night

[rico sorda]

I have been  alarmed at the rumours i'm hearing concerning the counting of votes on election night. It has been brought to my attention that some parishes are thinking about knocking  off for the night before the counting has been completed. Some country parishes are considering knocking off and starting again in the morning I find this very staggering and alarming. I have sat through a vote count in the 2008 election and know that once you start it must be completed if it is to be transparent and credible. Are we now to believe that there are 3 boxes at the polling booth? What if someone places there slip into the wrong box is it a spoiled paper? Will the parish be supplying overnight security for the ballot box? Why oh why can't people just get it done. This is being hailed as our first ever General election in an Island of 9x5 with a small voter turnout and the count will be shut down so everyone can have a good kip. What is the role of PPC in this? Why hasn't the State Media picked up on this?

I would like views on this very important issue. I have made  some enquiries and no one seems any the wiser as to what's going on.

This historical event could be overshadowed by claims of corruption and vote rigging. Let's open the boxes get the count done. What will be will be

Rs

[boatyboy]

I agree with you completely Rico,

Is it not an interesting state of affairs when 14 senior civil servants, have no problem spending the night at Raddisons at the expese of the long suffering taxpayer, however some overtime money to start and finish a count at election time maybe beyond reach of some Parish Halls.

Something smells again !

BB

[Dundee]

Perhaps if they held it on a Saturday it would solve the problem, and could also add some interest and engagement with the public, I usually have to rush in and out to vote, and I have little inclination to sit up waiting for the results when I have work the next day.

[man in the street]

count the vote on the night, its not like its a weekly event.
 or is the  extra time required for vote siffting , which opens the door to the cry"foul".

[Gazza]

St Saviours have been looking for volunteers, We were asked at the Constables hustings. Some are put off by the forecast 2:30 am finish. I understand that they asked to have three teams one to work on each count but this was declined. Think most of one persons nomination paper expected to be involved, but they are now in the thick of an election themselves.

[rico sorda]

It looks like we could be having a bit of a mess on our hands. How long have they had to organise this? Has an election count ever stopped halfway through for bedtime before?

rs

[Fritz]

If they hold them at the Radisson they wont be short of volunteers.

[Calimachon]

If they hold them at the Radisson even I would volunteer but I don't suppose they would like rabble like me involved.

Cali 

[ryanmorrison]

Each individual Jurat has the final say over how they handle the election on the night - some have decided to just count votes for either Deputy or Constable (if they have both) and do Senators the next day - although that could all still change on the night.

I'll be starting work at about 8pm and will be working through until we know the final result. We will be publishing them as they come in at bbc.co.uk/jersey and will have a live page with texts, tweets, facebook, message board and blog comments in addition to comments from our reporters at every count throughout the night and if necessary into the next day.

[rico sorda]

Thanks Ryan

This is getting ridiculous.

So, the Jurats have the say on how this election count is going to be handled? Some have decided to do the Senators the next day lol is that before breakfast or after lunch?

I hear that St Helier will be declaring all their results on the night

What is going on here? 

rs

[man in the street]

lets no forget the  re election of bush over the vote count fiasco.
 not one vote has been cast , and allready i feel it will be the same old  same old, nothing changes

[imacrappaud]

Typical Jersey Way. If you want to count the votes you should be expected to count until it's finished, ok a cup of tea and a scone break perhaps but if this is the case whereby the results are delayed because people need a kip then it makes another mockery of our so called democratic voting process.

The way I see it, if you want to be a vote counter but are worried about work the next day then dont do the vote counting. Leave it to people who can see it through. Maybe it would be better if all the voter forms where collected after the cut off, taken to St Helier and then counted. In fact maybe they should be counted in a centralised place rather than in each parish. Its not as though when the voting forms arrive in a central place they cant be placed into groups per parish. I dont see what difference it would make to reporting either, at the moment its a case of St Marys final results are just coming in and we will update you. Where is the problem in them being collated in one place and counted and a reporter saying St Marys finals results are just coming in and we will update you!

No offence to St Marys by the way it was just the first none St Helier one that cropped up in my head.

I think there are a lot of people in Jersey who dont vote, not because they dont see any change happening but because they think the whole voting system is a sham and by having a central count I think that might help to bring more of the sceptics out to vote.

[rico sorda]

I agree with the above.

I was asked today by one of our more elderly voters if there were different voting slips and different ballot box, I said I have no idea.

If people need to go to work the next day does that mean we have to wait until they finish so that the count can continue? Or, do they call in different counters?

I have sat through a count in 2008 and like I said before if it stops for the night it could turn into a total farce.

rs

[man in the street]

 the vote counters , start work after the votting is closed. so should be able to get a rest after a days work, and another cat nap before starting work the following day.
  is a vote counter a paid job? or not?.
god help this island if some were required , to do a bit extra we would fail as some needed  their eight hours ,to  shuffle paper the following day.
 in another situation , this why  outside workers  steal our work as  , they will work on and not go home or to the pub.

[newmac]

There's no excuse not to finish the count after the voting is closed, they've known about it long enough to make sure the required amount of people are there to get the job done.