To my knowledge the May 3 elections was the first time bloggers provided the public with up-to-the-minute updates as the votes were counted across England, Wales and Scotland. But in Scotland it was an election marred by controversy, something the blogosphere will not let go unheard.
18 Doughty Street provided a live internet broadcast as polls closed, whilst Iain Dale blogged through the night as votes were counted.
He was troubled however, by the apparent knowledge of the Labour Party in Scotland who were telling people the results of postal votes before the main voting had even begun. Electoral law prevents the release of information on postal votes before polling has closed.
The political correspondents across the mainstream news networks were also blogging away keeping the voters on top of the latest developments.
Nick Robinson, political editor of the BBC, alerted us to the problem of spoiled ballot papers in Scotland – this will keep bubbling throughout the week no doubt. It appears voters were confused by how to fill in the different parts of the paper. Scottish voters had two votes for the parliament and a separate vote for the local elections.
The Blamerbell Briefs blog kept us on top of development in the Welsh Assembly Government elections. For someone who said he: “returned home to have a bash at being a journalist and as an almost accidental consequence, a Welsh political blogger,” he should be commended.
And finally, do you remember that candidate in Bristol who used Photoshop on an election leaflet to make it look like he was somewhere when he simply wasn’t. Well he got beaten by the Lib Dems. So I guess he is the one with the egg on his face.
As the remaining votes are counted these elections look set to generate more movement in the blogosphere. Tune in next week for the update.
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