Barnet brings in Southampton lawyer to investigate election problems

The London Borough of Barnet has asked Mark Heath, Chief Operating Officer at Southampton City Council and a solicitor, to lead the independent investigation into polling station problems in the area on 5 May.

In the aftermath of the problems, the council was forced to apologise to residents whose names were absent from polling lists. It was also announced that the borough's chief executive and returning officer, Andrew Travers, would leave the authority.

Heath has worked as a returning officer at Southampton since 1994 and has handled a wide range of elections in the city and beyond. He has also served on several Government and Electoral Commission groups on electoral law, policy and practice.



Barnet said the terms of reference of the investigation were to examine: 

  • how incorrect electoral registers were provided to polling stations at the start of the Mayoral and GLA elections on 5 May 2016;
  • an assessment of the number of voters affected and the overall impact;
  • how the error was addressed on the day of the poll, including;
  • the involvement of the Greater London Returning Officer;
  • the advice and guidance provided by the Electoral Commission;
  • the arrangements that will be put in place so that the problems do not happen again;
  • any steps that should be taken specifically for the EU referendum in June, including liaison with the Chief Counting Officer and the Regional Counting Officer;
  • any relevant recommendations, for example on process improvements.

Heath has been asked to conclude the review by the end of May. The findings are to be presented to Barnet’s General Functions Committee on 9 June.

Heath's appointment, and the terms of reference of the investigation, were made in consultation with the leaders of the Barnet Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups and the Electoral Commission.



Residents who were directly affected by the problems on 5 May have been asked to provide feedback. Many voters who arrived at polling stations without polling cards were turned away.

Barnet added that in order to allow the investigation to conclude and report ahead of the EU Referendum, the deadline for all election feedback from residents would be 9am on 19 May 2016.