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Out for the count
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Even for those who are not overly interested in politics, there is something dramatic and exciting about sitting up through the night, watching David Dimbleby and his colleagues play with graphs, catch out politicians and announce election results live from far flung corners of the country.
But in Hertsmere the revelation of who had won and who had lost at last Thursday's borough council elections was an altogether more sedate affair.
With counting starting some 12 hours after the polls had closed, at 10am on Friday, a good night's sleep appeared to have done away with much of the adrenalin which usually pumps through the counting hall.
The first interested party to make a prediction in the morning sunshine was Sam Russell, Labour's parliamentary candidate for the next general election.
He reported that only around 150 votes had been cast in Borehamwood's Cowley Hill ward in the entire first 12 hours of voting - hardly an auspicious start - and said early indications suggested that, along with Brookmeadow, the ward's result would be particularly tight.
As the ballot papers began to tumble out of their boxes, one candidate was more fearful than most.
"It's been a disaster of my own making," said Socialist Labour candidate Jim Dry.
After accidentally spelling 'borough' wrong on his campaign leaflet, he believed he had blown his chance of picking up a decent number of votes.
He should not have worried. With 224 votes he performed more admirably than the Liberal Democrats' only Borehamwood candidate, Gavin Whenman, who could only muster 220 in Hillside ward.
The fact Mr Whenman was not at the count suggests he may have foreseen how his candidature would end.
He later wrote on his blog: "Ouch. Don't pull your punches will you Borehamwood." Quite.
Rarely could the one police constable and one PCSO who wandered around the hall have had so little to do.
Results came in dribs and drabs, and the whole event brought up thoughts of a Women's Institute AGM rather than an emergency get-together of the Zimbabwe Election Commission.
Hertsmere's Conservative MP James Clappison said "I won't count my chickens" about the possibilities of big wins for the party, but his wide grin told its own story.
There was at least a show of friendliness between the two leading candidates in the Cowley Hill contest, with Labour's Ann Harrison and her Tory counterpart Farida Turner sitting side-by-side to watch the votes being counted.
Mrs Turner bemoaned the difficulty of running an election campaign while also following the strict rules of the Jewish Passover festival which took place the week before the poll.
The politicans' dress sense also appeared to be more relaxed than in some years, with council leader Morris Bright going without a tie and favouring the David Cameron-esque open collar shirt.
His colleague Hannah David flew the flag for fashion in an above the knee Tory-blue dress.
Mr Bright regularly mopped his brow, but he had no need to sweat on the result. His party came out with three extra seats, a result in line with Conservative showings across the country.
"I could not be more delighted," the jubilant leader announced, and with that it was all over and done with.
Just 90 minutes long and without slanging matches, tight recounts or any chance of seeing the sun rise.
It was not like the old days.
12:31pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Sam Russell, Hertsmere on 3:32pm Tue 6 May 08
Just to be clear, that figure of 150 votes in Cowley Hill was reported from just one Polling Station - the other Cowley Hill stations may have had more!
Other than that, my prediction of two close fights was right, I reckon...
Sam Russell
Labour PPC for Hertsmere
Just to be clear, that figure of 150 votes in Cowley Hill was reported from just one Polling Station - the other Cowley Hill stations may have had more!
Other than that, my prediction of two close fights was right, I reckon...
Sam Russell
Labour PPC for Hertsmere
Posted by: lisa, borehamwood on 6:51pm Tue 6 May 08
whilst cleaning my car a week before the election, the local labour candidate was out canvassing, now they knock on evey door and missed me out...ummmm i think i am not worthy of a knock at the door, so i asked, only to be told that according to there records i don't vote...I do, always have done since i could, oh well you don't vote labour then, no your right i don't, but how would they know as i thought my vote was between me and the ballot box, apparently not, apparently after some investigations last week it does appear that councillors can retrieve this information as to has voted for them, which i find a complete infringement as far as data potection is concerned...quite frankly ALL PARTIES how bloody dare you!! I shall be sending this complaint into the ministry of justice, it's between me the ballot box and WHOEVER i decide to discuss this with not for general infomation for whoever wants to know, but then my child benefit records are out there for general use too so why am i not surprised!!!
whilst cleaning my car a week before the election, the local labour candidate was out canvassing, now they knock on evey door and missed me out...ummmm i think i am not worthy of a knock at the door, so i asked, only to be told that according to there records i don't vote...I do, always have done since i could, oh well you don't vote labour then, no your right i don't, but how would they know as i thought my vote was between me and the ballot box, apparently not, apparently after some investigations last week it does appear that councillors can retrieve this information as to has voted for them, which i find a complete infringement as far as data potection is concerned...quite frankly ALL PARTIES how bloody dare you!! I shall be sending this complaint into the ministry of justice, it's between me the ballot box and WHOEVER i decide to discuss this with not for general infomation for whoever wants to know, but then my child benefit records are out there for general use too so why am i not surprised!!!
Posted by: Gary on 8:40pm Tue 6 May 08
I don't believe the above story for a moment. If it were true there'd be a scandal.
I don't believe the above story for a moment. If it were true there'd be a scandal.
Posted by: Elle, Borehamwood on 10:19pm Tue 6 May 08
Am a postal voter now but, when I used to vote at the poll station there was always party members stopping voters to ask who they voted for, maybe that is where the confusion has come from.
Am a postal voter now but, when I used to vote at the poll station there was always party members stopping voters to ask who they voted for, maybe that is where the confusion has come from.
Posted by: Sam Russell, Hertsmere on 11:27pm Tue 6 May 08
Hi Lisa,
Hope this quick answer helps - I do not personally administer the process for Labour in Hertsmere, but basically, after each election a "marked" electoral register is made available to political parties.
This register is the same as the full electoral register, but has a mark against the names of the people who voted at the previous election.
We have no idea [italic]how[/italic] you voted (because your ballot number has no relationship with your poll number) - it is then up to us to make contact with you, and if you are kind enough to tell us you have voted Labour (or Tory, LD, whatever), then we can mark that against your name on our records. Of course, you always retain the right to keep your vote private, and Labour activists working on my campaign (indeed, all campaigns) will always accept a refusal to disclose a vote with good grace.
To reiterate, at no time do we know how anyone voted. We only know if people voted or not.
There is a debate going on about marked registers, and how much access political parties should have - this can be found at the Electoral Commission website.
Hope that this helps to clear things up.
Regards
Sam Russell
Parliamentary Candidate for Hertsmere
Hi Lisa,
Hope this quick answer helps - I do not personally administer the process for Labour in Hertsmere, but basically, after each election a "marked" electoral register is made available to political parties.
This register is the same as the full electoral register, but has a mark against the names of the people who voted at the previous election.
We have no idea
how you voted (because your ballot number has no relationship with your poll number) - it is then up to us to make contact with you, and if you are kind enough to tell us you have voted Labour (or Tory, LD, whatever), then we can mark that against your name on our records. Of course, you always retain the right to keep your vote private, and Labour activists working on my campaign (indeed, all campaigns) will always accept a refusal to disclose a vote with good grace.
To reiterate, at no time do we know how anyone voted. We only know if people voted or not.
There is a debate going on about marked registers, and how much access political parties should have - this can be found at the Electoral Commission website.
Hope that this helps to clear things up.
Regards
Sam Russell
Parliamentary Candidate for Hertsmere
Posted by: Graeme, Borehawood on 11:50am Fri 9 May 08
Hannah David - Wow what a stunner! Wish you were in Parliament you would shure brighten the place up - You can knock on my door anytime, Your smile would make my day !
Hannah David - Wow what a stunner! Wish you were in Parliament you would shure brighten the place up - You can knock on my door anytime, Your smile would make my day !
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