Postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the 2001 general election Contents Summary 2 Introduction 2 Postal votes 3 Proxy votes 5 Spoilt ballot papers 6 January 2002
Summary This report gives data on the postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the Westminster parliamentary election on 7 June 2001. This is based on information supplied to the Electoral Commission by (Acting) Returning Officers. The Commission is conducting a comprehensive policy review of absent voting (including postal, proxy and expatriate voting) which is expected to report in autumn 2002. This review will draw on a wide range of information, including the data published here. At the 2001 general election, changes in legislation made it possible for more electors than ever before to vote by post. Many took this opportunity. 1,758,055 postal votes were issued in total, compared to 937,205 in 1997, an increase of 820,850 (87.5%). Overall, 3.9% of the electorate were issued with postal votes, compared to 2.1% in 1997. In contrast, the number of electors appointing proxies to vote on their behalf decreased from 331,457 to 241,324, a decrease of 90,133 (27.2%). In total, 0.54% appointed proxies, whereas 0.75% did in 1997. The number of spoilt ballot papers rejected at counts was 100,005, 0.38% of the total votes cast. In 1997, 93,408 votes were rejected, 0.29% of the total votes cast, making an increase of 6,597, which is equivalent to 0.09% in the number of votes rejected compared to the total number of votes cast. Introduction This was the first general election where postal votes were available to all those who requested them, without having to give a reason. Electors were previously required to give a reason for their application, which had to be considered reasonable by their Electoral Registration Officer. This change was introduced on 16 February 2001 in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001. Similar provisions were introduced in Scotland by the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001. In Northern Ireland, however, different arrangements apply, as specified by the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001. The closing date for receipt of applications to vote by post or proxy was extended to 5pm on the sixth day before the date of poll. Prior to this, the deadline was 5pm on the eleventh day before the date of poll. A further change allowed postal votes to be sent overseas. Previously they could only be sent to addresses within the United Kingdom and so the only option to anyone living overseas was to appoint a proxy. The Commission is aware of postal votes being sent to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and the completed ballot papers being returned in time to be included in the count. Legislation also allowed for postal votes to be handed in at polling stations. In Northern Ireland, electors applying to vote by post are required to give a reason for their application and have to apply by 5pm on the fourteenth day before the day of poll. There are two exceptions to this: electors taken ill after the fourteenth day and constables or polling staff on duty on polling day. In both cases, applications may be made up until 5pm on the sixth day before the day of poll. Postal votes cannot be to sent to voters registered in Northern Ireland and living overseas nor can they be handed in at polling stations. 2
Postal votes Data sent to the Commission by (Acting) Returning Officers suggest that 96% of postal ballots were posted back and only 4% delivered in person at polling stations. Postal ballot papers issued Envelopes returned Number rejected* England 1,507,345 1,193,780 23,795 Wales 110,900 91,395 4,533 Scotland 108,699 90,405 2,446 Northern Ireland 31,111 26,493 415 UK total 1,758,055 1,402,073 31,189 UK total in 1997 937,205 764,366 26,371 Postal papers as %age of total electorate: 3.9 (1997: 2.1) Number returned as %age of number issued: 80.8 (1997: 81.6) Number rejected as %age of number returned: 2.4* (1997: 3.5) Valid postal ballots as %age of total valid votes: 5.2* (1997: 2.4) *based on incomplete information. Highest number issued (1997: 4927, 7.5% in Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Constituency Total issued %age electorate issued with postal votes Stevenage 25,510 36.5 Blackburn 13,994 19.3 Norwich South 13,565 19.0 Tyneside North 11,000 16.9 Newcastle upon Tyne North 10,983 17.4 Tynemouth 10,219 15.7 Cardiff North 9,964 15.9 Cardiff West 8,787 15.1 Hendon 8,726 11.2 Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend 8,701 14.1 Highest number returned (1997: 4535, 92.0% in Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Constituency Total returned %age postal ballot papers returned Stevenage 18,929 74.2 Norwich South 11,177 84.1 Newcastle upon Tyne North 9,014 82.1 Tyneside North 8,898 80.9 Tynemouth 8,688 85.0 Cardiff North 8,422 84.5 Blackburn 7,815 55.8 Bury North 7,305 86.0 Cardiff West 7,119 81.0 Newcastle upon Tyne East & Wallsend 6,991 80.3 3
Lowest number issued (1997: 274, 0.47% in Bootle) Constituency Total issued %age electorate issued with postal votes Hackney South & Shoreditch 644 1.0 Glasgow Springburn 642 1.2 Western Isles 616 2.8 Birmingham Ladywood 611 0.9 Belfast West 607 1.0 Brent South 532 1.0 Glasgow Baillieston 495 1.0 Bootle 480 0.9 Liverpool Walton 469 0.7 Glasgow Shettleston 440 0.9 Lowest number returned (1997: 211, 61.1% in Glasgow Shettleston) Constituency Total returned %age postal ballot papers returned Hackney South & Shoreditch 483 75.0 Birmingham Ladywood 481 78.7 Glasgow Springburn 462 72.0 Liverpool Wavertree 452 67.5 Brent East 425 57.7 Brent South 419 78.8 Glasgow Baillieston 377 76.2 Glasgow Shettleston 345 78.4 Liverpool Walton 337 71.9 Bootle 276 57.5 4
Proxy votes The total number of electors who appointed a proxy was 241,324 (0.54% of the electorate), compared to 331,457 (0.75% of the electorate) in 1997, a decrease of 0.21%. This fall is likely to be due to the wider availability of postal votes and the fact that postal votes can now be sent overseas. Electors wishing to apply to vote by proxy have to give a reason for their application. Electors who appoint a proxy may vote in person, providing they get to the polling station before the proxy does. No information is available on the number of electors who actually did vote by proxy as this is not retained by (Acting) Returning Officers. Highest number (1997: 2234, 3.2% in Gosport) Constituency Total %age electorate with a proxy Norwich South 2,297 3.22 Tyrone West 2,012 3.31 Plymouth Devonport 1,689 2.29 Devon South West 1,520 2.14 Gosport 1,499 2.15 Cornwall South East 1,148 1.45 Winchester 1,141 1.39 Fermanagh & South Tyrone 1,116 1.67 St Ives 1,073 1.45 Rossendale & Darwen 1,063 1.50 Lowest number* (1997: 16, 0.03% in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) Constituency Total %age electorate with a proxy Glasgow Shettleston 76 0.15 Birmingham Ladywood 75 0.11 Lewisham Deptford 69 0.11 Camberwell & Peckham 66 0.12 Barking 56 0.10 East Ham 45 0.06 West Ham 43 0.07 Brent South 31 0.06 Bethnal Green & Bow 29 0.04 Poplar & Canning Town 18 0.02 *some of the very low figures may refer to postal proxies only. 5
Spoilt ballot papers Spoilt ballot papers are all the ballot papers rejected at counts, including postal votes and votes cast in polling stations. At counts, no distinction is made between votes cast by post or in person as, once verified, they are all mixed together. Ballot papers are rejected under the following headings: a) Want of official mark b) Voting for more than one candidate c) Writing or mark by which the voter could be identified d) Being wholly unmarked or void for uncertainty e) Rejected in part The information on spoilt ballot papers is incomplete, as no returns were made from the following five constituencies: Manchester Gorton, Portsmouth North, Wolverhampton North East, Wolverhampton South East and Wolverhampton South. Despite these gaps, there were 6,597 more ballot papers rejected on 7 June 2001 than in 1997, although the turnout was over 10% greater in 1997. A total of 0.09% more ballot papers were rejected in 2001. The biggest single difference was in the category (d) spoilt ballots, Being wholly unmarked or void for uncertainty. (a) Want of official mark (b) Voting for more than one candidate (c) Writing or mark by which the voter could be identified (d) Being wholly unmarked or void for uncertainty (e) Rejected in part Total* England 1,486 16,372 3,366 63,123 308 85,542 Wales 142 1,041 136 1,870 2 3,191 Scotland 686 939 214 2.395 0 4,234 Northern Ireland 234 4,238 44 2,522 0 7,038 UK total 2,548 22,590 3,760 69,910 310 100,005 UK total in 1997 2,169 25,234 4,421 61,415 n/a 93,408 *does not always add up as some constituencies gave only a total of the ballot papers rejected rather than a breakdown under the different headings. Highest number (1997: 652, 1.68% in Stoke on Trent North) Constituency Total %age total votes Belfast West 716 1.72 Fermanagh & South Tyrone 693 1.32 Newry & Armagh 587 1.04 Batley & Spen 578 1.48 Down South 574 1.09 Blackburn 564 1.38 Northampton South 502 0.97 Foyle 495 1.00 Burton 473 1.01 Ulster Mid 452 0.90 6
Lowest number (1997: 14, 0.06% in Western Isles) Constituency Total %age total votes Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross 37 0.15 Hamilton South 37 0.14 Galloway & Upper Nithsdale 35 0.10 Cunninghame South 35 0.12 Glasgow Shettleston 35 0.17 Glasgow Pollok 34 0.13 Argyll & Bute 33 0.11 Linlithgow 32 0.10 Aberdeen North 29 0.10 Western Isles 10 0.08 7