Referendum Turnout

steveL · November 22, 2012, 10: PM

For Info:
Worth a read. Some parts of Hartlepool appear to have virtually given up on the idea of voting.

http://www.hartlepoolpost.co.uk/files/referendum turnout.xls

You'll need Excel to view it or you can download an Excel viewer here
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=10

rabbit · November 23, 2012, 10: AM

Very revealing Steve.

It does confirm the general "couldn`t be bothered" attitude of the town.

Many of the town`s voters will be still unaware (now) of the fact that they have decided that the post of elected Mayor is to go.

And never to be reinstated?

The viewers of the BBC "This Week" programme last night will be more aware of this, as Alan Johnson, Labour MP for Hull highlighted the Hartlepool referendum result as his "Moment of the Week",.and noted that Stuart Drummond had been re-elected twice and had served 10 years as Mayor.

Michael Portillo.referred to Mr.Drummond as a "Most delightful fellow". Praise indeed.

More plaudits to come.

rabbit · November 23, 2012, 11: AM

Noticed too that in the bloc of people who did bother to vote, almost half voted using the postal method.
That means even fewer people than we thought popped down to the voting offices.

That is if PV1 etc means postal voting.

What this means is open to debate.

Postal voting however is clearly a method which can be used if and when some prisoners get the right to vote.

steveL · November 23, 2012, 12: PM

In an alternative Universe, all political groups would be seriously concerned about the obvious dissconnect between the electorate and the decision makers and they would be looking to find ways to arrest the decline in voting whether it be by promoting postal voting or whatever.
The reality is that the lower the turnout the more significant becomes the vote of the party faithful and activists and so it suits the incumbents fine if turnouts are low. It's far easier to get out a few hundred compliant voters and win the day than the few thousand required to achieve the same result on a higher turnout.
Certainly no one in the Labour camp will feel at all awkward in gaining the reins of power on a 10% vote - in their eyes, the percentage doesn't matter one jot so long as it achieves the desired result.

testing times · November 23, 2012, 12: PM

Perhaps some arrangement could be made with The Mail to print a posal vote application form and maybe HTH should do the same. At the moment it involves writing to or calling in the Civic to get a form or printing one off on-line but not everyone has internet access. In any case, the council website is a nightmare.

steveL · November 23, 2012, 01: PM

There is a link to download a postal vote application form on the front page of HTH.

http://www.hartlepoolpost.co.uk

rabbit · November 23, 2012, 02: PM

"In an alternative Universe, all political groups would be seriously concerned about the obvious dissconnect between the electorate and the decision makers and they would be looking to find ways to arrest the decline in voting"

Perhaps Nadine in the Jungle wasn`t too daft after all.

steveL · November 24, 2012, 03: PM

It's quite interesting all of this.
I've rarely met anyone who doesn't have an opinion on just about everything yet here we are faced with 82% of people, in effect, saying that it's not worth expressing it via the ballot box.
Is it just plain apathy or laziness or is it the case that people believe whichever way they vote will make sod all difference?

I don't know the answer but whatever it is, it leads to the obvious question as to how the people can be reconnected to the democratic process.

rabbit · November 24, 2012, 06: PM

"it leads to the obvious question as to how the people can be reconnected to the democratic process".

Labour will need to give some thought to this at Rotherham following recent events.

steveL · November 25, 2012, 12: AM

The mistake in what you say is that you're focused on 'keeping him' and have apparently succumbed to Labour's efforts to focus the referendum on Drummond. It was never about Drummond but on the position itself.
Had people voted to keep the position, then they would still have had their chance to vote on Drummond himself next May.

testing times · November 25, 2012, 11: AM

They focused it on Drummond and lied about the costs. We need to hear from Labour what the costs of their version of the 'committee system' will be. That leaflet implies that will be no cost at all.

fred c · November 25, 2012, 12: PM

Quote from: testing times on November 25, 2012, 11: AM
They focused it on Drummond and lied about the costs. We need to hear from Labour what the costs of their version of the 'committee system' will be. That leaflet implies that will be no cost at all.

There is absolutely no chance of an explanation of the committee system costings from "The Mob", they obviously feel they are above the need to be held accountable to the ratepayers of Hartlepool.

Another Major area of concern for the people who are paying for civic governance out of their own pockets, as opposed to those paying for it through the benefit system, is a serious overhaul of the "Register of Interests"...... in my opinion it isn`t a good enough explanation for a councillor to say they are employed by eg. HVDA or Manor Residents.

If councillors or members of their families are earning any money whatsoever from organisations that are funded or part funded by the ratepayers of Hartlepool aka. HBC , the amount that they earn should be included in the Register of Interests.

The number of councillors that are employed by or are directors of organisations that receive grants from HBC is obviously one of the reasons for the concerns raised in the Peer Group report.