 | 'As the electors trooped to polling stations for the first Christmas by-election
in Scotland for almost half a century many complained they had not received
their cards. Checks by the parties revealed that hundreds and possibly
thousands of polling cards had not been delivered.' Murray Richie and Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald, 22 nd December 2000 |  |
As the electors trooped to polling stations for the first Christmas by-election in Scotland for almost half a century many complained they had not received their cards. Checks by the parties revealed that hundreds and possibly thousands of polling cards had not been delivered.
The missing cards were just the latest signal that the turnout in the by-election to replace Dennis Canavan as Westmin-ster MP was likely to be depressed in line with recent contests which produced historic lows.
The electoral registration office in Stirling at first denied anything was wrong but admitted later that voters in "some streets" in two wards might not have received their cards. After delivery problems the cards had been distributed by hand, a spokesman said, claiming the Christmas postal rush was to blame.
But the Post Office promptly passed the blame back to the registration office and insisted it had not received the cards for delivery in the first place.
Tories were particularly annoyed because one of the areas most affected is a Conservative stronghold. Another ward was said to be strongly Labour.
Rival politicians joined forces on the local radio station to remind voters that they did not need polling cards to vote.
An SNP spokesman said the party was "worried" that some electors might feel they had lost the chance to vote and a Conservative official said: "We are doing our best to let people know that this is unfortunate but not enough to prevent voters turning out at polling stations."
In last month's contest in Anniesland, where voters elected successors to the late first minister, Donald Dewar, there was a post-war Scottish record low turnout of 38.3%. On the same day there were two even smaller percentage polls in West Bromwich West and Preston where less than 30% of the registered electorate voted.
These figures were in contrast to the turnout of 72% in Falkirk West at the 1997 general election and 63% in the first Scottish Parliament election.
The Falkirk West turnout could reignite the debate about abandoning the British tradition of polling only on Thursdays. Tony Blair is known to sympathise with the idea of moving to the European practice of holding elections at weekends and extending polling booths to more accessible outlets such as supermarkets and shopping centres.
Another factor in Falkirk West was Labour's decision to call a quickie by-election on the shortest day of the year, only four days before Christmas.
Labour strategists gambled on an early poll hoping to gain from the momentum of the party's double success in Anniesland.
The last by-election of 2000 was caused by the unprecedented decision of a sitting MP to quit in protest after a prolonged dispute with his party. The SNP needed a swing of 18% to oust Labour.
- Dec 22
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