Election confusion caused by council gaffe

Aylesbury Vale District Council has apologised, after listing candidates from four years ago on the Aylesbury, Buckingham North, Buckingham South and Luffield Abbey voter information sections of its website.

Residents in Buckingham South were also left wondering how a polling station would be set up in the middle of the Tesco roundabout following a mapping error on the site.

The errors were spotted by Independent candidate Jayson Quayle, Labour’s Jon Harvey and Conservative Warren Whyte, who immedietly informed council chiefs.

Mr Harvey said: “I think AVDC have dropped a bit of a clanger.

“I have no idea what process they have gone through but it has made it confusing for people.

“I really hope that AVDC have listened to our concerns and will now put out coherant information, they also need to apologise profusely.”

A spokesman for AVDC blamed technical problems for the error.

He said: “Unfortunately due to a technical glitch it appears that residents have been able to access the elections section we created in 2011 via the search option on the home page.

“This section includes the list of candidates for the 2011 elections, the election results and a polling station search option.

“Our website contractor has been instructed to update this section as a matter of urgency. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.”

He added: “Aylesbury Vale residents will be able to view the results of the district council elections from 1pm on 8 May at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and follow updates on Twitter via @aylesburyvale.”

Aylesbury Vale District Council told this paper this morning (Thursday) that the 2011 election information had been removed by their web supplier.

Meanwhile the Vale’s 156,000 eligible voters are being urged to exercise their democratic rights.

The polls for the parliamentary and local government elections will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Those who are registered to vote in the elections should have received their polling card which states their local polling station. People do not need to take their polling card along on the day to vote.

On arrival people will be asked for their address and staff will find their name on the register, no ID is required.

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