General Election count taking place in Lerwick

February 5, 2015 at 3:22 pm

OIC chief executive and election returning officer for the Northern Isles Alistair Buchan.

For the first time, the counting of votes for the election in the UK parliamentary constituency of Orkney and Shetland will be held in Shetland.

The Returning Officer, Orkney Islands Council’s chief executive Alastair Buchan, said that the time had come for a break with tradition.

He said: “It’s an opportunity to refresh the process and ensure wider accountability across the constituency, as well as recognition of the electorate in Shetland.

“It also allows election agents and invited guests in Shetland the opportunity to view the process, which they were perhaps unable to do so before, due to the cost and time involved in travelling to Orkney.”

Mr Buchan added: “Our election teams in both Orkney and Shetland have built up a breadth of experience around the running of elections. We regard this as an opportune time to share and develop that experience. It may also result in slightly quicker result being declared, which I’m sure we will all welcome in the early hours of May 8.”