Voting Machine Problems Halt Scottish Election Count

Submitted by edg on Fri, 4 May '07 6.02am

With half the seats declared, Scottish Labour have so far managed to hold off the Scottish National Party (SNP), although the SNP have taken a number of key Scottish seats.

Of the 66 seats declared Labour have 32 and the SNP have 18 seats. The Lib Dems are at 10, the Conservative and Unionist Party have 5 and the Green Party has a single seat.

In the last election, the Labour party won 50 versus the SNP's 27, the Lib Dems 17, Conservatives 18 and the Greens 7.

There are 63 seats still to be declared.

Turnout is estimated to have been slightly up on the 2003 election with just over half of eligible voters casting a vote.

Technical problems with voting machines and up to 100,00 spoilt ballots across Scotland have marred the election. In Edinburgh, prior to the election the software vendors had to upgrade the vote counting machines because they were initially unable to scan the large number of candidates on the ballot.

In Edinburgh, counting had to be suspended until later today, due to further technical problems.

“As a result of the technical difficulties DRS experienced with their management information system, we have been unable to complete the Edinburgh parliamentary count. These technical difficulties had an impact on our ability to produce the result," said Tom Aitchison, Returning Officer at the City of Edinburgh Council.

“We have been able to declare two constituency results for Edinburgh Central and Pentlands. We will start the adjudication process for the remaining four Edinburgh constituencies and the Lothians Region list result at 12pm on Friday 4 May.

“The local government count will commence as soon as practicable after the Scottish Parliament declarations have been made.”

Scottish Election Results - Edinburgh Seats

Edinburgh Central
Sarah Herriot Boyack (Scottish Labour) held her seat with a majority of 1193.

Edinburgh Pentlands
David William McLetchie (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) held his seat with a majority of 4,525.

COUNTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED IN:

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
2003 Result - Scottish Labour

Edinburgh North and Leith
2003 Result - Scottish Labour

Edinburgh South
2003 Result - Scottish Liberal Democrats

Edinburgh West
2003 Result - Scottish Liberal Democrats