To think this was an outrageous error on the ballot paper

[SEmyarse]

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.

I think you must be near me - town starting with A, and candidate initials CC? Unless there are multiple occurrences!

Yeah that's the one! Are you the same ward as me? Or has this error actually been made publicly know? Because I've not seen a thing

Not my ward but I live locally and have kids in two secondary schools in town. I saw it on the local FB! There’s quite a large post on there with over 100 responses, including from the candidate.

Our council publishes the lost of signatures for candidates. I have looked usually at this as I think it's interesting to know how allegiances change and who councillors rely on.

One former councillor told me that he carried many sign up sheets and would complete several as everyone who signed for him was a guaranteed vote.

I suspect you are wrong.
This is the least likely explanation. More likely it’s shenanigans from the candidate and/or Reform.

@SEmyarse

Have you reported it to the Electoral Commission?

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/report-electoral-fraud

I was given an email by the polling station which appears to be part of Thames valley police. I assumed that was reporting for electoral fraud, there doesn't seem to be anything else specific to do on that page? I've also contacted local media and the local council. None have responded.

I'm baffled that so many are insisting this is the most likely case, rather than someone forgetting to double check the ballots.
At no point has he said anything that would especially align himself with reform. If he was trying to slide under the radar as reform (why would he? there are plenty of popular reform candidates), he'd surely be revealing himself after the result. And if he's happy to have the logo next to his name (he says he's not), why not just be open about it from the start? He'd have to have someone on the inside sneakily changing his listing to reveal on polling day? Nah, seems mental.

Sorry, it is the offical document which shows agents etc and will be published on the Council website prior to the election

I think the disbelief is just because when you've been involved in elections you know how many procedures are in place, and what the consequences can be if there is an error that it seems so very unlikely. Not impossible but the LA have a lot to answer for here and I am shocked there hasn't been a statement from them publicly.

It's also surprising that is wasn't first picked up during the postal votes which go out around 14 days beforehand. Had it been then it could have been sorted as they can be re-issued (this happened to a ward near me in 2019 as a candidate was missed off accidentally)

He could challenge the result and someone could well lose thier job.

I would call the electoral commission and ask speak to them, they're very helpful over the phone and there is a deadline for action to be taken

I hadn't even thought of postal votes! You're right, I assume the ballots are identical, so why did no-one notice?
When I flagged it at 4pm, I was told I was the third person to notice. Even in a small polling station that seems an absurdly low number - and quite honestly if my husband noticed something it must have been obvious!!
The lady on the desk who I spoke to said she'd contacted election officials at 10am when it was first noticed and been given an email that we could contact if we wanted. She then seemed quite surprised when I said that yes I'd like to, and she had to dig it out for me, it wasn't close at hand.

I know where you mean now, and the description is blank both in the nomination paper and the result so it is clear in no way is he affiliated with Reform.

Looks like he has stood with no political persuasion a few times too.

Do take this further, it is so important we have a fair and just democratic process. Admittedly the winner had a big majority so it is highly unlikely to change anything but that is really not the point.

Also, the real Reform candidate could get on this and say they lost votes due to it. They'll have the backing of a political party and staff/money behind them to make it easier I guess.

It isn't about who won or lost in anyway, but is it critical these things are challenged and good for you.

There wasn't a real reform candidate. I suspect that's how the confusion came about - every other ward round here had one.

I've now seen someone on Facebook showing an email response they've had from the council saying he WAS registered for reform, so it appears I was wrong. BUT if that's the case why wasn't the party listed the ballot paper (rather than just the logo), and why does the official list of candidates on the council website still show him as independent?

The police have responded saying they've looked into it, decided no laws have been broken and now declared the matter closed. So apparently its fine to have an ambiguous candidate on a ballot. Still don't know for sure what he is.

The one I looked at with a Lib Dem winning and an independent with the initials CC was in ward being with B had a Reform candidate second. So I assumed I had found it!

Maybe you could have a logo and no description because when the nomination papers are filled in then there are two different actions. One is party description so "The Conservative Party candidate" and the other is emblem so "emblem no 1" or whatever. But Reform would have to have agreed it. Either way very odd situation!

Our ward doesn't begin with B? Its just Axxxxxxx South

My sleuthing was wrong! There is a ward begining with B around Abbotsbury with a LD winning and an independent with the initials CC!

Clearly I am not the Miss Marple I thought I was!

How bizarre!

And now I'm trying to find the one you mean!!

I live in the neighbouring ward

I saw on the FB post that a few people (including the winning candidate) had asked CC whether he filled out the papers to have the Reform logo used by his name and he hasn't answered.

I wonder if he did the initial paperwork to be for Reform and then changed his mind? It's not compulsory to have the party name as well as the logo but you do have to get official permission from the party otherwise anyone could stand and put 'Labour Party' or whatever by their name, so Reform must have approved him at some point.

But if that was the case his leaflets should have had the reform imprint on the bottom...

If he is affiliated with Reform (as the person on fb seemed to be saying) but is saying that he is not, as you suggested previously OP, then I would have thought that's a substantial irregularity actually. It begs all kinds of questions about what has been said on the doorstep versus the reality, and more widely begs questions about how honest other Reform candidates have been about their affiliation.

Actual mistakes on electoral paperwork are vanishingly rare. Personally, I would pursue this further. Perhaps other political parties locally would run with it if the police are being a bit wet. I'm surprised the media aren't more interested. Whoever you support, we all deserve more transparency.

I have no clue what ward this has occurred in btw but if I did I'd be shouting it from the rooftops!

I agree with everything you've said. It is so important that we have a transparent democracy for absolutely everyone regardless of where you stand politically, and at all levels.

I was recently elected to council and won against a reform candidate. He was honest about being a reform candidate.

In the neighbouring ward there were two independant candidates - one of them sent out election campaign material where the written content was identical to my opponent's reform leaflet but had had all of the reform branding removed.

We looked into it at the time but it's perfectly legal. Apparently it was because his reform party membership was still pending.

I stood as an independant candidate because I don't believe party politics is useful in local government but anyone who knows me knows I always vote Labour in general elections. I don't belong to the Labour Party so I do believe I'm completely independent.

Many many years ago the parties were not put on the ballot paper and it was changed because of the difficulty of people remembering who the candidates stood for. This was well before the days of the internet and people had a harder job to be informed. It also caused massive confusion when opposing candidates had the same name. I’m old so I can remember when it was like this ( I think!)