The chief executive of Barnet council has left his post after an election-day blunder resulted in many people in the north London borough being unable to vote. Andrew Travers has left Barnet council by “mutual agreement” following the fiasco on 5 May, in which thousands of names were missing from electoral lists at the north London authority’s 155 polling stations. Many residents attempting to vote in the mayoral and London assembly elections were turned away, including the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis. Mirvis was unable to vote and is yet to receive an apology. The council has been unable to say how many of the 236,196 registered voters were turned away. It has launched an investigation into what went wrong and to ensure arrangements for the EU referendum in June are appropriate.
A council spokesman said: “Following the events during the morning of Thursday’s elections it has been decided, by mutual agreement, that Andrew Travers, chief executive, will leave the council.”
The Electoral Commission has said an election would only be held again if the result was challenged by a constituent after voting closed. The commission said any legal challenge had to be raised with the Royal Courts of Justice within 21 days.
Full Article: Barnet council chief steps down after election blunder | Society | The Guardian.