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8/10/2019 Dismore Peter Wardle Electoral Commission 171114
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Direct telephone: 020 7983 4031 Fax: 020 7983 4418 Email: [email protected]
LONDONASSEMBLYLABOUR
Andrew Dismore AM
Dear Mr Wardle,
Barnet Council Review of Polling Places : committee decisions 11/11/2014
I am writing to urge you to investigate some of the decisions made by Barnet Council atits statutory review of polling districts and polling places.
I attach a copy of the committee report.
Contrary to what the report states, I was not as Assembly Member asked to contributeto the consultation nor was I notified of the review by the council.
I am particularly concerned about the decisions concerning polling district HOC, and theproposal to split the polling district to create a new district, HOF; and the proposal tocreate a new polling district HSD.
It can be seen that the officers’ recommendation was to create a new polling districtHOF, with a polling place at Annunciation school. This recommendation was very muchon all fours with the guidance on polling districts and polling places, issued by theCommission on how to conduct such statutory reviews.
This was a very important and long overdue proposal, as the present arrangements, asset out in the report; make clear that electors in the south of the current polling districthave a considerable distance to travel to vote. Many have a walk of over 30 minutes ormore. This part of existing HOC is also the least well off part of the ward, forming partof the Watling Council Estate.
Despite the of ficers’’ recommendations, the majority Conservative councillors votedagainst this change, for no obvious reason other than party political advantage, so as tocontinue to make it difficult for these voters to cast their ballots, with the object ofdepressing turnout amongst voters who it can be expected may not be naturalConservative voters, when contrasted with most of the rest of the polling district. This is
blatant party political manipulation of the electoral system and I would therefore urgeyou to conduct an urgent inquiry into what has gone on.
Our Ref: AD/EC/171114Date: 17 November 2014
Peter WardleChief ExecutiveThe Electoral Commission3 Bunhill RowLondon EC1Y 8YZ
City HallQueen’s Walk London SE1 2AASwitchboard: 020 7983 4000Minicom: 020 7983 4458Web: www.london. ov.uk
8/10/2019 Dismore Peter Wardle Electoral Commission 171114
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Direct telephone: 020 7983 4031 Fax: 020 7983 4418 Email: [email protected]
Turing to new polling district HSD, whilst there is no objection to the creation of a newpolling district, given the rapidly growing population in this ward, the location of thepolling place is again a manipulation for party advantage. The proposal is to locate thepolling place near the extreme east end of the new district, not in the centre of it, whereit would be more accessible to more electors. Some will have a walk in excess of 30minutes to vote. Suggested alternatives were not considered, again for party political
advantage for the Conservative Party.
I would urge you also to investigate this decision.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew DismoreAssembly Member for Barnet and Camden
