Rutland County Council Oakham North East By-Election: Vote Counting Underway Today at 10am this morning.

Rutland County Council Oakham North East by- election counting of votes to start at 10am this morning.

(Friday 22 November 2024)

Oakham North East By-Election: Vote Counting Underway Today

Today marks a crucial day for the Oakham North East constituency as the vote counting for the by-election begins this morning at 10:00 am. Oakham and Rutland News will be on-site to observe the count and will bring you the results as soon as they are available.

The by-election was prompted by the sad death of Hannah Edwards, a diverse range of candidates is vying for the position. The candidates standing for election are:

- Ben Callaghan – Reform UK  

- Linda Louise Chatfield – Liberal Democrats  

- Christopher StJohn Eric** – The Conservative Party  

- Katie Ross – Labour Party  

Ballot boxes were received at the count venue following the close of polls last night, and preparations are now underway for the verification and counting process. At 10:00 am sharp, election officials will begin to empty the ballot boxes, ensuring a thorough verification process. This involves checking the totals against the ballot paper accounts, which meticulously record how many papers were issued at each polling station. Notably, this process will also include a verification of postal votes.

Once the verification is completed, counters will start tallying the votes for each candidate. They will separate the ballots into distinct piles for each nominee and record the number of votes accrued. This process will continue diligently until all ballots have been counted.

To uphold the integrity of the election, the figures will be double-checked to ensure they align with the verification numbers. After the totals have been accepted, the candidates will be consulted prior to the official declaration. It’s worth noting that under specific circumstances, backed by reasonable grounds, the Returning Officer may allow for a recount.

The results are expected to be announced between 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm today, Friday 22 November 2024. As the community eagerly awaits the outcome, all eyes will be on the counting venue to see who will secure a victory in this pivotal election.