WORKINGTON ELECTION ERROR SEES WRONG PERSON JOIN COUNCIL
Last updated at 11:47, Friday, 15 May 2015
A Workington man has missed out on joining the town council after an
error at the election count.
Frank Johnston, who grew up in Moorclose, stood for election in the ward
last week.
Mr Johnston, 37, of Ruskin Close, High Harrington, was announced as
coming last out of nine candidates in the ward, missing out on one of the six
available seats.
But after questions were raised over the weekend, it was found that Mr
Johnston had in fact received 690 votes – 85 more than fellow Labour party
member Christine Johanssen, who was announced as winner of the sixth
seat.
The Moorclose ballot papers had been split between three counting tables
but the votes for Mr Johnston counted at one were missed off his
total.
Andrew Seekings, returning officer, said: “I apologise to the candidates,
election agents and voters for this mistake, which resulted from simple human
error and was not picked up during the additional checks made at the
count.
“Unfortunately it was discovered too late to do anything as the result
had already been called.
“We will be investigating how this could happen to ensure procedures are
put in place to prevent it happening again.”
