Postal ballot trials double voter turnout for 'Super Thursday' (UK)

[CShine]

The experiment with all-postal ballots for today's European and local council elections has doubled turnout in some parts of the country.

Although the trial has been dogged by claims of intimidation, fraud and incompetence, the move has had a dramatic effect in reversing the long-term fall in number of adults voting. All-postal ballots are taking place in four regions with more than 14 million voters, one-third of the electorate.

A straw poll by The Independent of 10 towns and cities where the new system has been introduced has produced increases in turnout of up to 100 per cent. The turnout across the East Midlands is expected to rise from 22.6 per cent in the 1999 European election to at least 35 per cent. In Northampton, where fewer than one in five people voted in the 1999 European election, the turnout is heading "towards 40 per cent", a borough council spokeswoman said.

By noon yesterday, just over 25 per cent of Nottingham's voters had returned their papers, leaving the city on course for a 30 per cent turnout. That compares with 24 per cent in the last elections and just 13 per cent in 1999.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=529969

[NMDemDist2]

1. One of the NW states (Oregon or WA can't remember)

have gone to all mail ballots. wonder if there is some info on it.