High tension as Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire goes through a recount due to a ‘discrepancy’ in the vote is ‘is close, very close’
The tension waiting for the declaration of the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire seat was already high as the Liberal Democrat Angus MacDonald and the SNP’s Drew Hendry kept neck and neck throughout the night.
But when an initial review of the tally was ordered that tension only increased and there was an audible sigh from candidates, their supporters, including family and friends as an official recount was ordered.
Part of the reason for that tension was that the race was already tight – in the words of one count officer “it is close, very close” – but now the wait will continue and the tension continues.
The Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency was not alone in needing a recount, Peterborough, Poole and Havant also had to start over as staff entered their ninth hour of counting.
Officials explained that a “discrepancy” emerged between the verified vote tally and the actual vote tally – that means those votes that were accepted did not match the total present at the end.
Votes can be rejected because they are unclear or spoiled. That has to be agreed under the close watch of representatives of the candidates. So when the numbers of verified and actual do not match unacceptable votes may have slipped through.
That is one scenario though there are many others but unfortunately the earlier vote check – technically called an accountancy check – was “unable to resolve the statistical anomaly”.
So returning officer Derek Brownfirst met with the candidates to give them the news as the waiting media was briefed about the next steps which it is expected will take another 80 minutes from the time of writing.
We will keep you up to date with the very latest developments.
