Yorkshire European Elections - which voting system will we use?

Here is the latest news in the long running saga of electoral reforms! Although Central Government have decided that we in the East Riding will have an all-postal voting system for June's European elections, the legislation has not passed through the House of Commons and there is significant cross party disquiet to blur its future.

This means that once again Central Government is causing not only havoc and confusion, but also increased spending. This is because unnecessary amounts of Local tax payers' money, which can be ill-spared, has to be used on resources so that either of the systems, postal or traditional could be used in June.

As Councillor Felicity Temple, Joint Chair of Corporate Issues, put it, "We are in the ridiculous position of knowing the dates of the European election but not which system to use, and the system for the Regional Assembly referendum but not the dates!!"

Councillor Jonathan Owen, who is also the Chairman of the Constituency Association and thus heavily involved with elections, agreed: "We really need a clear indication from the Government as to what system they expect the electorate to use. Their reason for implementing postal voting is to increase the "turnout" at elections. However, there is already confusion over voting for MEPs and what they are for - if further challenges are put in the way many people will simply not bother to vote.

Councillor Symon Fraser added, The Government just cannot get things right and every time it is the local tax payer who is fleeced by their inability to make a decision. We want to encourage everyone to vote but to do this we need a system designed with clarity and with a logical and understandable message. But we are talking about this Government, so why am I surprised to find the system foggy and the messages mixed?

29 January 2004