Guidance for the GLRO administering the GLA elections

You should ensure that your verification and count arrangements can deliver the following key principles for an effective verification and count:

• all processes are transparent, with a clear and unambiguous audit trail. For example:
  • everything is carried out in clear view of all those entitled to attend
  • sufficient information is provided to attendees on the processes to be followed
  • communication of information is consistent and open
  • the secrecy of the vote is maintained at all times
  • the security of ballot papers and other stationery is maintained at all times
• the verification produces an accurate result. This means that the number of ballot papers in each box either matches the number of ballot papers issued as stated on the ballot paper account or, if it does not:
  • the source of the variance has been identified and can be explained, and/or
  • the box has been recounted at least twice, until the same number of ballot papers is counted on two consecutive occasions. 
• The count produces an accurate result, where:
  • the total number of votes cast for each candidate (or party), together with the rejected votes matches the total number of ballot papers given on each verification statement
  • the verification, count and result collation are timely

The London-wide Assembly member election result will also rely on accurate figures from both the Constituency Assembly election count and the London-wide Assembly election count. 

In developing a result collation process, you will need to consider each key stage that contributes to the overall result, including verifying the ballot papers and counting the votes in each of the constituencies, collating the local totals from the constituencies and calculating the result, and ensure that these are organised, managed and delivered in such a way as to ensure these key principles can be met.

In addition to considering how to ensure that your processes will enable you to meet the key principles, you should consider other relevant practical factors that will affect organisation and timing of the verification, count and result collation such as:

• the number of constituencies within Greater London and the number of boroughs within each constituency 
• turnout
• the geography of the Greater London area
• size and capacity of venues
• the ability to ensure transparency for candidates, agents and observers at the venues
• the cost of using the venues