Uncertainty on Britain’s decision day

Ian, UK - I agree that proportional representation is needed.

But there is a very important story here. Thousands of people were unable to vote in this election, either because the doors shut early due to poor organisation and polling stations not being able to process votes quickly enough, or in some cases because there were not enough ballot papers available. There were even lost postal votes. [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666338.stm ].

Can you believe that? In any other country, if there were EU monitors, the election would be declared illegal. The fact that people queued for hours and were not allowed to vote is an absolute scandal, and all they have got is various apologies from the local returning officers.

Now they are being told that they may be able to sue for a few hundred pounds. What's that about? They are entitled to vote, and they should have a re-vote in all constituencies where this happened.

I am outraged by this and would like to know why this election is not deemed illegal when it would be in other countries.

(kate, 7 May 2010 09:35)

Yes it is terrible, people were unable to vote in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, London etc. The doors were just shut on people who had been queuing for hours. I don't understand why they can't have the polling stations open for two days, like they do in South Africa and they have less voters than the UK. With me being away at university, I registered for a postal vote, so I haven't had any problems. However in York they apparently lost over 100 postal votes.

This whole election has been a disaster. No party has been able to achieve a majority, if there is to be any coalitions, it looks like it will have to be made up of 3 or 4 parties, which is a bit out of hand, especially for the UK, who isn't used to coalitions. People haven't been able to vote, votes have been lost. Some places have had out of date voting registers, so first time voters have been unable to vote. My neighbour registered to vote for the Afron constituency three months ago and he walked to the polling station at 7 yesterday morning and they hadn't listed him, so he wasn't able to vote. This election has been awful, I won't be surprised if it is recalled. We're supposed to be a first world country, yet we have an election similar to that of a third world country. This election has been an embarrassment.

The torries will defiantly win, however they might not get a majority. They will look to the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland for support if that is the case.

I voted Lib-Dem in my constituency, however I don't think the Lib-Dem candidate will win my constituency. Ideally I'd like to see a revival of the Lib-Lab pact and have a coalition government.

What Britain needs is proportionate representation, not this undemocratic first-past-the-poll.

The torries will defiantly win, however they might not get a majority. They will look to the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland for support if that is the case.

I voted Lib-Dem in my constituency, however I don't think the Lib-Dem candidate will win my constituency. Ideally I'd like to see a revival of the Lib-Lab pact and have a coalition government.

What Britain needs is proportionate representation, not this undemocratic first-past-the-poll.

Ian, UK - I agree that proportional representation is needed.

But there is a very important story here. Thousands of people were unable to vote in this election, either because the doors shut early due to poor organisation and polling stations not being able to process votes quickly enough, or in some cases because there were not enough ballot papers available. There were even lost postal votes. [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666338.stm ].

Can you believe that? In any other country, if there were EU monitors, the election would be declared illegal. The fact that people queued for hours and were not allowed to vote is an absolute scandal, and all they have got is various apologies from the local returning officers.

Now they are being told that they may be able to sue for a few hundred pounds. What's that about? They are entitled to vote, and they should have a re-vote in all constituencies where this happened.

I am outraged by this and would like to know why this election is not deemed illegal when it would be in other countries.

(kate, 7 May 2010 09:35)

Yes it is terrible, people were unable to vote in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, London etc. The doors were just shut on people who had been queuing for hours. I don't understand why they can't have the polling stations open for two days, like they do in South Africa and they have less voters than the UK. With me being away at university, I registered for a postal vote, so I haven't had any problems. However in York they apparently lost over 100 postal votes.

This whole election has been a disaster. No party has been able to achieve a majority, if there is to be any coalitions, it looks like it will have to be made up of 3 or 4 parties, which is a bit out of hand, especially for the UK, who isn't used to coalitions. People haven't been able to vote, votes have been lost. Some places have had out of date voting registers, so first time voters have been unable to vote. My neighbour registered to vote for the Afron constituency three months ago and he walked to the polling station at 7 yesterday morning and they hadn't listed him, so he wasn't able to vote. This election has been awful, I won't be surprised if it is recalled. We're supposed to be a first world country, yet we have an election similar to that of a third world country. This election has been an embarrassment.