Poll chaos throws spotlight on creaking British system focus 05/11/2010

Poll chaos throws spotlight on creaking British system

focus 05/11/2010 LONDON — The poll deadlock gripping Britain has fuelled criticism of its creaking electoral system — ranging from anger over chaotic voting arrangements to bemusement at how power is shared out afterwards. In the country renowned for the so-called mother of parliaments, it was embarrassing to be accused by African observers of serious organizational lapses at polling stations last Thursday. Hundreds of voters in urban areas were left fuming after being preventing from casting their ballots because they were still queuing outside at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) when voting stations closed. “What does it say about the state of our democracy?” asked Dr. Stuart Wilks-Heeg of the University of Liverpool. “We can project election outcomes using sophisticated ... forecasting techniques, but we cannot devise a voting system which can cope with a fairly moderate increase in turnout in some densely populated urban areas.”.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100511com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Incompetence, thy name is Comelec FRONTLINE Waste of P11B in taxpayers’ money focus Poll chaos throws spotlight on creaking British system VIEWPOINTS Oath AN OUTSIDERS VIEW That other election FEATURE Anwar’s accuser to be grilled in Malaysian sodomy trial FEATURE Gangs become father, mother to Haiti’s forlorn orphans focus Euro countries square up to change