A CAMPAIGNER who thought he had “won a victory for democracy” has accused Warrington Borough Council of going back on its word.
John Mulhall, a tireless local campaigner and former independent candidate in local elections persuaded the council to agree to make application forms for postal votes available at the Contact Centre in Horsemarket Street
He originally raised the issue with a question at a council meeting and later received a letter from council leader Ian Marks agreeing to make a small supply of application forms available at the centre.
He also explained that the council restricted the provision of blank forms because of the risk of postal voting fraud.
Mr Mulhall said later that a friend of his visited the centre to register a change of address and was not offered a form – and Mr Mulhall himself noted that no posters were displayed indicating their availability.
Mr Mulhall said: “I contacted the council and was told the form had been made available only for a trial period.
“But there was no mention of a ‘trial period’ at the council meeting, nor in the leader’s letter to me. This is madness. I thought I had won a small victory for democracy, but we seem to have a Third World democracy here in Warrington.”
Cllr Marks said: “At the council meeting, I agreed the council would make postal voting forms available at the Contact Centre.
“Since that time only one person has requested a form.
“The closing date for applications for this election was April 14, which is the reason we took down the posters, so as not to mislead people.”
Mr Mulhall retorted: “I kept a close watch on the Contact Centre and I never saw any posters displayed at all.”
A CAMPAIGNER who thought he had "won a victory for democracy" has accused Warrington Borough Council of going back on its word.Council went back on its word
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
3 Comments
The madness would be leaving voting forms in public places, if people are able to collect a form then they are able to vote.
I suppose serial campaigners must always have a campaign..
I agree, the whole point of having to apply for a postal vote personally is to stop voting fraud. I don’t see any point in having them in a public place, after all, voting cards are delivered by hand to named individuals at their houses. Why should postal voting forms with the names printed on them not be delivered in the same way?
I agree too. My sister simply rang the councils ‘election dept’ to notify them of a change of address etc and you could also ring them to get a postal vote… simples and if your phone is near your armchair you don’t even have to move 🙂 !