A subscriber still awake in Dorset emails in
Contrary to the indication of remaining loyal to Jim Knight (Labour) in the election poll that the New Statesman held by e-mail for their readers, I could not, for the first time in a lifetime, vote Labour (although, by voting for the Socialist Labour Party I felt exonerated and relieved to have a credible alternative that provided an outlet for a socialist vote of principle).
However, after lodging a complaint in concern to our ballot paper, omitting the fact that David Marchesi is the candidate for the Socialist Labour Party, and that the ballot paper failed to represent the SLP on an equal footing with all the other candidates - that clearly had stated the Party they stood for, and correct logo next to the appropriate names - to the representatives of the Returning Officer - I was given the reply that “the information must have been omitted”.
None of the representatives present (three in total) new that David Marchesi represented the Socialist Labour Party; if this is the case then how do potential voters know that Mr Marchesi represents the Socialist Labour Party, other than those like me who are aware of the SLP candidate?
The omission of the Socialist Labour Party name, clearly stating the representatives Party, undermines the potential for vital votes in a constituency that would obviously attract votes for the Socialist Labour Party from vintage labour voters that would support the growing development of the SLP in Dorset South.
Especially, when considering that every other candidate had their own political party, clearly stated, so that voters new exactly what and who they were voting for, drew even greater attention to the void left by the blank space by Mr Marchesi’s name.
It seemed offensive to me that such a basic error could be made when all the literature that I have read clearly states that David Marchesi represents the SLP, yet, the actual ballot paper failed to represent the SLP and their candidate correctly. Perhaps there were other reasons as to why, but it does seem frustrating talking to one or two people who had no idea that he was a candidate of the SLP - “was he representing a Party? Oh, that’s a shame, I’ve just voted and didn’t realise…”
The turn out on Portland has been extremely high apparently higher than the 97 and 2001 elections.
All the best for your election special - looking forward to receiving it.
Ashley Reed