2003 St Albans City and District Council election

Background

Following the last election in 2002 the Conservatives were the largest party with 21 seats, compared to 20 for the Liberal Democrats, 15 for Labour, 1 independent and 1 seat was vacant. However the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives at a by-election in Verulam, which meant that going into the 2003 election both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats needed to gain 8 seats to win a majority.

Voting trial

The election saw a trial of various voting methods. Voters could choose between e-voting, either by computer or on a touchscreen at a polling booth, voting by phone or by post, or on a traditional ballot paper. The period for voting was also increased to allow voting from 28 April to 1 May 2003.

However problems occurred at 15 polling stations where the system did not recognise voters pin numbers, which meant that traditional paper ballots had to be used in those polling stations. The issues meant the election nearly had to be voided, with the count only able to start over 3 hours after polls had closed.

However turnout was up by 5% on the previous election in 2002 at 43%.

Election result

The Liberal Democrats gained 2 seats from Labour to become the largest party on the council with 23 councillors. The Conservatives remained on 21 seats and there was still 1 independent, while the losses for Labour in Ashley and St Peter's wards reduced them to 13 seats.

Following the election the Liberal Democrat group on the council chose Robert Donald as their new leader taking over from Brian Peyton.

|seats % = 57.1 |votes % = 43.8 |plus/minus = +5.0% |seats % = 23.8 |votes % = 35.4 |plus/minus = -0.4% |seats % = 19.0 |votes % = 20.6 |plus/minus = -4.5% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.1 |plus/minus = -0.2%

Ward results

By-elections between 2003 and 2004

A by-election was held in Verulam ward on 5 April 2004 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Pauline Buffham, who was moving abroad. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Susan Campbell with a majority of 265 votes over the Conservatives.

References

References

1. "Local elections". BBC News.
2. (2003-05-03). "How Britain voted: English and Scottish councils". The Independent.
3. "St Albans". BBC News.
4. Price, Shannon. (4 July 2002). "Lib-Dem victory this time around". Hertfordshire County Publications.
5. (2003-04-04). "London: Local election preview". BBC News.
6. Morris, Owen. (9 April 2003). "Pupils set to e-vote". Hertfordshire County Publications.
7. (2003-05-02). "Non-voters are the majority". BBC News.
8. (21 May 2003). "A new day for democracy". publicservice.co.uk.
9. Collins, Paul. (2 May 2003). "E-voting glitches hamper city elections". Hertfordshire County Publications.
10. (2003-05-02). "St Albans e-voting trial goes horribly wrong. Almost".
11. (19 May 2003). "Lib Dems name new leader". Hertfordshire County Publications.
12. "District Council Election Results 1st May 2003". St Albans District and City Council.
13. (2003-05-03). "Election results". Financial Times.
14. (26 February 2004). "By-election date set after councillor quits". Hertfordshire County Publications.
15. "Verulam Ward By Election Result 5th April 2004". St Albans City and District Council.