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Northumberland Election 2008 Video

Your guide to the election - RECOUNTS

by Paddy Gascoigne From Blyth Valley Council (Deputy Returning Officer for Northumberland)

At the count the Returning Officer shares the result with the candidate and their agents.  Some candidates may disagree with the result feeling that the ballot papers were not properly counted or there may not be many votes separating one candidate from another.  In this case they may request a recount.  If a recount is requested and the Returning Officer agrees the ballot papers are put back onto the tables and counted by a separate team.  This team will count the ballot papers as before, sorting them out into candidates and then a revised result is produced.  This result is then shared with the candidates and they can then, hopefully, give their agreement.   There have been occasions when there have only been 2 or 3 votes separating each candidate and sometimes recounts can go on until there is a consistent pattern where one candidate is always leading.  There have been occasions when the result is tied, if this is the case the law states that we must draw lots.  This is done by getting pieces of paper and the candidate who draws the longest/shortest straw then becomes the winner.  This sounds unfair but it is the only way of getting an agreed result.  It would not go to a further election.