Following the secure delivery of the highprofile and complex 2007 combined ScottishParliament and Local Government elections,where DRS e-Counting technology delivered32 accurate counts in Scotland, producingresults for just under 500 individual contestsin under 24 hours, DRS has continued towork in partnership with election officials todeliver the results in a series of complexLocal Government STV by-elections.

A total of seven wards within five councilsheld by-elections over the course of just afew months. The elections were called for avariety of reasons, including resignation anddeath of the incumbent councillors.

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One of the first was Argyll and Bute Council,who were quick to re-establish theirpartnership with DRS for the Helensburghand Lomond South Ward by-election. Havingbeen the first council in Scotland to makeuse of DRS e-Counting technology back in

2005, Returning Officer Nigel Stewart waskeen to work with DRS again.

“I have always had confidence in the e-Counting technology to deliver accurateresults efficiently and effectively. The DRS e-Counting system is a robust and reliablesystem and we deployed it to improve thespeed, accuracy and efficiency of the STVelection count process,” he said.

With a 37.4 percent turnout from anelectorate of just under 6,000, two DRSPhotoScribe® scanners were used toelectronically count the 2,244 ballot papers.Just 60 minutes after scanning commencedthe results were declared. This included,where necessary, verification andadjudication by the Returning Officer and

his staff. The complex singletransferable count finally went to fourstages; if counted manually it couldhave taken around 30 people anythingbetween three and four hours.

DRS delivers Scottish by-elections in record time

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Elsewhere, in the Baillieston andDrumchapel/Anniesland Wards in Glasgow,Forth Ward in Edinburgh and BallochmyleWard in East Ayrshire, results were alsorecorded in record time. Depending on thenumber of stages within the vote, finalnumbers were available in anything from 25minutes to just 90 minutes – counting up toalmost 7,000 papers within one ballot.

Glasgow City Council’s Returning OfficerGeorge Black commented: “For this sort ofelection, electronic counting allows us toproduce a result more quickly and moreaccurately than would ever be the case withmanual counting.”

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DRS always aim to deliver secure, accurateresults while reducing the administrativeburden of counts. It would simply not bepossible to complete a complex STV electionas quickly by hand. In all cases, ReturningOfficers found their jobs were madesignificantly quicker, easier and more efficientwith the use of DRS’ e-Counting system.

The benefits brought by the system aremanifold:

• assurance that the correct number ofi ballot papers are entered into the count • the guarantee that each paper isi counted, but counted only once• electronically recording votes where thei voter’s intent is clear; passing images ofi ballot papers – where the voter’s intent is noti clear – to election officials for adjudication• higher security measures through audit trailsi and access controls. The state-of-the-arti scanners easily deal with single and multi-vote papers.

DRS is a global leader in the field of electronicelection processing management. Its systemshelp significantly reduce the administrativeburden of political elections whilst ensuringand maintaining the utmost security, integrityand accuracy of the results. By-elections suchas these are an important demonstration ofwhat can be achieved when ReturningOfficers are able to realise the benefits ofelectoral modernisation technology.

Please note DRS products and services aresubject to change without prior notice and that theinformation provided is for guidance only. DRSequipment complies with all current regulations. All trademarks acknowledged.

DRS Data Services Limited1 Danbury Court, Linford Wood Milton Keynes, MK14 6LR

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