The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
EU citizens turned away from election polling stations
Short notice of European elections led to problem in raising awareness of how to transfer votes from home country
A number of EU citizens living in the UK reported they were turned away from polling stations yesterday.
The Electoral Commission said the “very short notice” from the government about the UK taking part in the European election had hampered efforts to raise awareness of the process for people to transfer their vote from their home country.
There were no reports of major obstacles at stations in Tayside and Fife, but nor was there an abundance of enthusiasm for the process.
John Davidson, 66, summed up the mood as he cast his vote in Dysart.
“I’ll always vote in elections because I feel you have to, but it won’t make much difference this time,” he said.
“I voted against Brexit and it looks like it’s still going to happen, so what’s the point really?”
One volunteer at a polling station in the Wemyss villages described the early turnout as “dire”, with fewer than a dozen voters turning out in the first couple of hours.
“It’s picked up a bit as the time has gone on because it’s been a nice day, but nothing like the normal elections,” she added.
There was slow response at polling stations in Dundee and several reported lower than usual turn-outs during the morning.
Louise McDermott, at Atherstone Terrace Library, said: “It’s been quiet but we expected that.
“So far we have seen about 4% of people vote.”
In Forfar, the normally busy morning commuter period reportedly struggled to rise above a 1.5% turnout.
One voter said: “It seems very quiet, even at places like the Guide Hall voting station in Forfar’s Myre.”
Perth councillor Peter Barrett, who split his day between campaigning outside the Rodney Centre and knocking on doors across the city, said initial turnout had been steady but numbers had tailed off earlier than normal.
He was: “I was at the Rodney from about 8am to 9.15am, normally I’d be there until around 9.30am but I was twiddling my thumbs for a good five minutes before I left.
“There’s certainly a lower turnout than for a Scottish Parliament or Westminster election.”
However, he was hopeful that democracy would have its day before the polls closed at 10pm.
“Only two people have told me they’re not going to vote,” he added.
Votes will be counted in every local authority area on Sunday, apart from the Western Isles, which will follow suit on Monday.
Six seats are up for grabs in Scotland, where almost two-thirds of voters backed Remain.
Two of the six Scottish MEPs elected five years ago came from the SNP, with another two from Labour and one each from the Conservatives and Ukip.