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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this was an outrageous error on the ballot paper

73 replies

SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 08:19

Background, in the run up to the local election DH and me were discussing our voting intentions. We have both voted euro sceptic in the past, me more than him. I decided this time though that Farage not calling out even the craziest Trumpisms was too far for me so I wouldn't be voting reform, and would probably go Tory. DH decided however that he would like to vote reform.

However when the local candidates list was finalised we were the only local ward without a reform candidate. We had tory/lab/libdem/green/independent. We struggled to find out anything about the independent guy, so DH decided he couldn't face voting for any of the mainstream parties and would abstain.

We'd only had libdem literature through the door until Weds evening when we seemingly got tory and independent at once. Having read the independent one and seen the incredibly uninspiring tory one both of us actually decided to vote independent .

DH went to vote yesterday and having done so texted me to say that the independent was actual reform! He has form for massively misreading things so I was dubious, but when I turned up there it was clear as day, the guy who's been canvassing as independent has a reform logo by his name. I spoke to the returning officer who said I was the third (at 4pm) person to notice and has given me a police email to contact.

I've still voted for him because I can't see how it can be him at fault. It's not like you can sneak in to a party is it? Have I accidentally voted reform? Have others? Have some changed from him because they think he is reform? Will he get hassle from locals for misrepresentation involving the most divisive party?

Its quite an inconsequential seat which almost certainly will be Libdem, but I think this is absolutely outrageous.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 02/05/2025 08:21

If you think there has been electoral fraud then you should report it

Sunnyglowdays · 02/05/2025 08:22

Was the independant candidate reform when the ballot paper were made or did he join the party at a later date?

You need to find out the facts before you start complaining about things.

ComeAsYouAreAsAFriend · 02/05/2025 08:22

An independent can of course decide to run on behalf of a party at any stage (or a party candidate can decide to run as an independent). Possibly he was being sly not revealing this transition to the electorate

SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 08:24

I've been given a police email to contact which I will be doing today. On balance I reckon it's likely an error by whoever finalised the ballot papers. I guess as the only ward without a reform it just seemed likely. But he's very clear on his literature and (I've found since) Facebook that he's not part of any party.

OP posts:
Leafy3 · 02/05/2025 08:36

I suspect its less likely to be an error on the form and either sly campaigning, as a pp suggested, or a last minute move to reform

TheAutumnCrow · 02/05/2025 08:42

Why don’t you ring or email your local council’s election office and ask? They may have the explanation for you, ready to hand.

Like pp, I can imagine the candidate started off as an Independent and then became Reform more recently, after the candidate registration date had passed and the ballot papers were printed.

Sunnyglowdays · 02/05/2025 08:47

The thing is when you vote, you’re voting for a person not a party. At any time they can leave a party, join another or even be kicked out of a party.

AnSolas · 02/05/2025 09:06

SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 08:24

I've been given a police email to contact which I will be doing today. On balance I reckon it's likely an error by whoever finalised the ballot papers. I guess as the only ward without a reform it just seemed likely. But he's very clear on his literature and (I've found since) Facebook that he's not part of any party.

If he never was a party member I would make an official complaint as the election process should not allow such a basic mistake to happen.

Its one job every few years so how hard is it to have a proper control where 2 independent people check that the data supplied by that less than 20(?) people match the printed paper?

And if he filled in the paperwork and "accidently" told them he was a party member they need to look at exactly how that happened so they can prevent it from happening again.

And if he lied they can deal with that within the rules.

Mulledjuice · 02/05/2025 09:08

Presumably his leaflet talked about his position on multiple issues - did you align with those?

Deerrobin · 02/05/2025 09:17

I would have thought it far more likely that he switched at some point or it’s some sly campaigning grift rather than an error as ballot papers are so heavily checked by so many routes. Definitely needs looking at and an explanation given though.

BethDuttonYeHaw · 02/05/2025 09:27

Interesting that your assumptions are that some council official has fucked up rather than this independent/reform politician has been at it.

HamptonPlace · 02/05/2025 09:27

jesus christ 😵god help us.

TheAutumnCrow · 02/05/2025 09:32

BethDuttonYeHaw · 02/05/2025 09:27

Interesting that your assumptions are that some council official has fucked up rather than this independent/reform politician has been at it.

Yes, I think that an election office fuck-up is the least likely explanation. Elections are very tightly run and regulated.

AnSolas · 02/05/2025 10:11

BethDuttonYeHaw · 02/05/2025 09:27

Interesting that your assumptions are that some council official has fucked up rather than this independent/reform politician has been at it.

All the better to make it offical and have a proper process to establish what happened.

And its never just 1 person organising the ballot and the politicial pool in a local election is small so is a big embarrement if there was an offical mistake.

I would expect that there is a pre- print and post print staff so 2 minimum if not 3+ staff plus at least 1 print setter check as that will be someone whos career is in print

A FYI for anybody on what the layout rules are
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-acting-returning-officers-administering-a-uk-parliamentary-election-great-britain/voter-materials/production-ballot-papers/ballot-paper-design/candidate-details

WitcheryDivine · 02/05/2025 10:15

Your local paper or local BBC politics reporter would look into this at the drop of a hat! You deserve to know the truth about how this happened. Where are you based?

thinkfast · 02/05/2025 12:20

What’s the candidate’s name?

SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 15:24

I've contacted the candidate who insists that he is not nor has ever been affiliated with a party. He is furious.
I've also contacted the BBC and the electoral email address that I was given yesterday, but neither have replied yet.

OP posts:
SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 15:28

BethDuttonYeHaw · 02/05/2025 09:27

Interesting that your assumptions are that some council official has fucked up rather than this independent/reform politician has been at it.

I just assumed this because I couldn't see how he had fiddled it.

OP posts:
hattie43 · 02/05/2025 15:30

Oh here we go , don’t like the march ahead of reform so let’s begin the discrediting , didn’t take long . I very much doubt anything untoward has happened , these things are so meticulously adjudicated it would be near on impossible to purposely falsify events .

SEmyarse · 02/05/2025 15:30

He apparently spent yesterday patrolling the 2 main polling stations in the ward pointing out the mistake. I happen to be at the third much smaller one so didn't see him.

OP posts:
Leafy3 · 02/05/2025 16:39

hattie43 · 02/05/2025 15:30

Oh here we go , don’t like the march ahead of reform so let’s begin the discrediting , didn’t take long . I very much doubt anything untoward has happened , these things are so meticulously adjudicated it would be near on impossible to purposely falsify events .

Reform has form for shady practices. No discrediting required.

hydriotaphia · 02/05/2025 16:46

I totally agree that this is an outrageous error and you should get to the bottom of it. My first thought is whether he was originally submitted as a reform candidate but left/was kicked out of the party after the ballot papers were printed. I seem to recall that when labour withdrew support from its candidate in the Rochdale by- election recently, he still appeared on the ballot as Labour for this reason. www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-02-13/what-next-for-labour-in-rochdale-as-party-withdraws-candidates-support

MaySheWillStayRestingInMyArmsAgain · 02/05/2025 16:59

I appreciate it’s not the situation here, but (side issue) do you have to be a member of a party to be its candidate?

A couple of years ago I was chatting to our local candidate for the Green Party on a street corner. It was a “Come and talk to the Green candidate” event. There were with one or two people wearing Green badges.

I asked her about her policies for our local area, and in conversation she revealed she hadn’t (yet) joined the party. (I wasn’t asking any questions to trap her, I’m not clever enough.)

She was elected, and is a member now.

                        ——

I agree that it’s a serious situation for an independent candidate’s name to appear on the ballot paper which indicates he’s the candidate for an any party which he isn’t.

LoveIndubitably · 02/05/2025 17:00

hattie43 · 02/05/2025 15:30

Oh here we go , don’t like the march ahead of reform so let’s begin the discrediting , didn’t take long . I very much doubt anything untoward has happened , these things are so meticulously adjudicated it would be near on impossible to purposely falsify events .

Right, so both the candidate and the ballot paper are correct, is that what you're saying? Despite claiming different things?
How does that work, then?

Boomer55 · 02/05/2025 17:04

It’s a local election. In the long term, no one gives a shit. 🤷‍♀️