Council questions lack of polling cards (From Bucks Free Press)

Princes Risborough council questions lack of polling cards

3:12pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Rebecca Cain

QUESTIONS were raised over why no polling cards were sent out for a by-election in Princes Risborough.

At Princes Risborough Town Council last night cllrs asked why there were no polling cards sent out by Wycombe District Council, which would have brought attention to the vote, they said.

The by-election was on September 13, and Iain McLauchlan was voted in out of two candidates. In total there were 455 votes and six spoilt ballots.

Cllr Alan Turner said the clerk sent out a note to councillors about whether polling cards should be issued or not.

With less than 48 hours to respond before Wycombe District Council called back, only one councillor, John Coombs, gave a preference.

He said he did not see a need for polling cards so WDC said they would go with that opinion.

Alan Turner said: "It is not her [the clerk's] fault or anyone else here. Nothing in the email said there was going to be a short deadline."

Cllr McLauchlan said: "I think we need to learn a lesson from this. If there is another by-election we need to make the decision as soon as possible and let the clerk know as soon as possible."