2002 St Albans City and District Council election

Background

Before the election the Liberal Democrats were the largest party on the council with 23 councillors, compared to 19 for the Conservatives, 15 for Labour and there was 1 independent. 7 councillors stood down at the election, Liberal Democrats John Henchley, John Peters and Brian Roberts, Conservatives Richard Blossom, Patrick Johnston and Julian Turner, and Labour's David Enright.

The Liberal Democrats targeted Labour held seats in Ashley and St Peter's, while Labour aimed to pick up a seat in Cunningham.

Voting trial

A trial took place in Sopwell and Verulam wards under which voters could vote either by internet, phone, post or at the polling station using a touch screen system. The internet voting trial was funded by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as part of an attempt to get more people involved in elections. As a result of the trial one of the wards set the fastest declaration time at only 4 minutes after the close of polling. However turnout was actually down from 24.1% to 23.3% in Sopwell ward and down from 41.9% to 38.9% in Verulam ward compared to the last election in 2000.

Election result

The Conservatives gained 3 seats from the Liberal Democrats in Colney Heath, Harpenden North and Sandridge to become the largest party on the council with 21 councillors. Overall turnout at the election was 38.22%, up from 33.56% at the 2000 election.

|seats % = 38.1 |votes % = 35.8 |plus/minus = -4.4% |seats % = 33.3 |votes % = 38.8 |plus/minus = +6.1% |seats % = 28.6 |votes % = 25.1 |plus/minus = +1.2% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.3 |plus/minus = +0.3%

Ward results

By-elections between 2002 and 2003

A by-election was held in Verulam ward on 27 June 2002 after the death of Conservative councillor Michael Pugh. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Martin Frearson with a majority of 24 votes over the Conservatives, after Frearson had come second to the Conservatives in the seat at the council election in May.

Turnout increased by 2% from the May council election and the number of spoiled ballots dropped to 2 from 30 at the May election when the trial of electronic voting had taken place in the ward.

References

References

1. "St Albans". [[BBC News Online]].
2. (2002-05-03). "Election results; Local Elections". [[The Times]].
3. Morris, Owen. (15 April 2002). "Parties ready to do battle". [[NewsBank]].
4. (2002-04-06). "Protest vote". [[Liverpool Echo]].
5. (2002-04-29). "Local election campaign round-up". [[The Guardian]].
6. Steiner, Rupert. (2002-04-07). "Voters tick with a click". [[The Sunday Times]].
7. (2002-04-26). "U.K. puts online voting to the test". [[CNET News]].
8. (2002-05-27). "Brian Rudman: There's no easy panacea for voter apathy". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
9. Morris, Owen. (9 May 2002). "Lib Dems lose three to Tories". [[NewsBank]].
10. Morris, Owen. (3 May 2002). "Tories take three wards". [[NewsBank]].
11. "District Council Election Results 2nd May 2002". St Albans City and District Council.
12. "District Council Election Results - 4 May 2000". St Albans City and District Council.
13. (2002-05-03). "Local elections: early results". [[The Independent]].
14. Price, Shannon. (4 July 2002). "Lib-Dem victory this time around". [[NewsBank]].
15. "Verulam Ward By Election Result 27th June 2002". St Albans City and District Council.
16. (28 June 2002). "East Enders desert BNP". [[theguardian.com]].