By Election Will Go Ahead Regardless of Investigation

Thursday, 27 May 2010 01:00

Message from Returning Officer: Election Will Go Ahead Regardless

3FM have been speaking to Director of Prosecution on the Island Stuart Kneale, in an effort to get a better understanding of what factors could affect tonight’s Douglas East by-election results.

There have been fears that today’s election had been thrown into disrepute following the arrests in connection with corrupt use of the proxy voting system.

Of the 5 people arrested the police have not confirmed any names, or indeed who they were canvassing on behalf of.

The bottom line is the election will still go ahead regardless of the investigation or any outcome of that today.

If it transpires that the people detained for questioning were involved in corrupt use of the proxy voting system, and the person in question was elected, then its highly likely a petition would be taken to the courts, and whether they would re-call the election or give it to the person with the second highest number of votes would be upto them.

All parties involved in the election and the investigation have opted not to comment through fear of prejudicing the election.

Polling stations are open till 20:00Hrs.