DemocracyScotland

In the wake of the Scottish elections on May 3rd, it is clear that a travesty of democracy has taken place in this country. With a staggering 142,000 votes rejected, 7\% of voters have been disenfranchised from the political process. As pending legal challenges transpire, it is clear that the legitimacy of the electoral process in Scotland has been seriously called into question.

The design of the ballot was always controversial. The single ballot design has clearly helped to squeeze the smaller parties. The decision to hold the council elections on the same day as the parliamentary elections quite probably propped up the Labour vote by ensuring their supporters vote in both. In addition, the reasons for handing over responsibility for postal votes and automated counting to DRS still remains unclear, with the consequences clear for all to see.

Whilst there are reports that the new STV system was a major cause of the problems, this is not supported by the evidence. Executive director, Robert Richie, an independent observer for US based Fair Vote has made it perfectly clear that the single ballot was the major problem, comparing the recent elections in Scotland to the hanging chads fiasco in Florida back in 2000. The ultimate responsibility for the single ballot decision rests squarely with the Scottish Secretary of State, Douglas Alexander. It is now clear that advice from numerous groups stated that the single ballot would lead to confusion, especially for the most vulnerable people in Scotland. This advice was totally ignored and Douglas Alexander must surely be held to account.

Whilst the Electoral Commission will carry out a review, it is clear that they are far from independent, as they would effectively be auditing themselves. Therefore, on its own, any such review would do little to restore faith in the electoral process in Scotland.

It is likely that many of the disenfranchised voters include some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland, as the so called spoilt ballots spiralled out of control.

In Glasgow Shettleston, the poorest area in the UK, the number of rejected ballots has risen from a mere 20 in 2003 to 992 (or 2035 if you include the constituency vote).

There is rising discontent with the events of May 3rd across many, if not all political parties. Labour MP for Midlothian, David Hamilton has called for all the ballot papers to be "recounted" whilst Labour MP for Glasgow North West, John Robertson, said that he had witnessed the count and it was "not democracy".

We therefore ask anyone who wishes to highlight this injustice to show their support by signing the petition below. Together, lets make sure this sorry fiasco never takes place again.


We, the undersigned, demand the following:

The immediate resignation of Scottish Secretary of State, Douglas Alexander

A fully independent and public inquiry into the conduct of the May 3rd elections

A recognition that the number of rejected ballots seriously calls into question the legitimacy of the election results and has undermined the democratic process in Scotland.