WHAT an interesting piece about Will Godfrey’s job as Returning Officer for Newport East and West at the forthcoming general election (March 16). Most people do not realise the amount of work involved in organising elections. This year it is more difficult because of changes in the voting registration rules. It is pleasing that schools will not be used and electoral staff must have done a good deal of work for this to happen.
However I think Mr Godfrey is mistaken that all polling stations will have roughly the same number of voters on their registers. I’m pretty sure this does not apply to some of the rural wards and several wards in the urban area.
Not wanting to be too pernickety, I hope Mr Godfrey does not wait for all ballot boxes to arrive at the counting centre before starting the count. If he does, he will double the time of the count when it can begin after two or three boxes arrive. I am sure he knows this.
On another point, he says that Newport Council does not run the polling stations in the part of Newport East which is within Monmouth. I’m not sure what he means by this, but it is Newport that books the stations, pays for them, appoints the staff, delivers equipment and attends if help is needed on the day. Maybe this has changed and it is now delegated to Monmouth Council.
Anyway, all the best to Mr Godfrey for a successful poll.
Jim Dyer, Stockton Road, Newport
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