Polling station at Wootton Community CentreJust 16.4% of Islanders voted to choose who will be the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight on polling day yesterday (Thursday). The turnout of 18,179 – from an electorate of 110,789 – was announced during the count at Medina Leisure Centre this lunchtime (Friday). A total of 8,692 Islanders visited their local polling station to vote, with 71 stations located across the Island. It means that, on average, each polling station saw just 122 people across 15 hours, which works out to less than 9 voters per hour. Surprisingly, a total of 9,487 postal votes were returned – around 8.5% of the total electorate. The actual postal vote return was around 50% of those who applied to vote via post. When marking their ballot papers, voters had the following 4 choices; incumbent Donna Jones (Conservative), Becky Williams (Labour), Prad Bains (Liberal Democrats) and Don Jerrard (Justice and Anti-Corruption). Polling stations were open across the Island between 07:00 and 22:00, with the count getting underway at Medina Leisure Centre at 09:00 this morning. However, verification progress has been slow with the actual count having only just begun. The winner is expected to be announced later today (Friday) once all the votes from across the region have been counted.
What does the role of Police and Crime Commissioner entail?
The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was created to be the voice of the people and to hold the police to account. They are responsible for allocating funding and overseeing priorities, to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient police service, according to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
It really does. There would be no point voting for the politician who said they would work to abolish the role as politicians cannot be trusted to do what they say they will. If we had a true democracy, the options would have been 4 politicians and a fifth option of scrapping the role altogether. Many more people would then have voted. But then we don’t have a true democracy in this country anymore, we are told what we can vote for.
Honky Tonk
2 years ago
What a waste of time and money.
Paul
2 years ago
Which only goes to show how disaffected the population is with politics and politicians. They don’t want to waste their time voting for liars who will not do what they claimed they would do.
A lot of people who are complaining are doing so because of the post, what value does this post have anyway.
What is needed is a posiiton that conttols the magistrates who are appallingly lenient.
Make getting photo id easier, photo costs are extortionate, why can’t each town hall have computer that someone could electronically upload and produce the id there and then.
Dave
2 years ago
The other 83.6 are too sensible to waste their time on this
Sh*t
Ye like the twats who did’nt and kept that wanker kahn in destroying london and all what he doe’s spreads to ALL of us..so ye that’s good then..
its me
2 years ago
Why would anyone vote?
Who are these people? We know nothing about them at all.
Think people have just about given up here on this Island, the state of everything and it reflects in the votes.
Bobs Biggest Fan
2 years ago
Doesn’t the low turn out just show the opinion of the public, the PCC is a joke role, and the costs of this quango role far outweigh any real and tangible benefit it should be delivering .. If the PCC role was important and effective .. then perhaps the higher footfall would have occurred .. the incumbent (outgoing ? ) PCC has eroded the credibility of a PCC (IMO)
fred
2 years ago
Was the first vote that included the voter suppression of the working class. Can’t afford to get a driving licence or past port, then no vote. Despite there being zero evidence that voting in person has a fraud issue. What does have a fraud issue, voting by mail. But that had no new checks added to it, nothing to check you are the person you say you are. Why? Because the majority of the postal votes go to the Tories.
The Tories have turned the UK into an autocracy. We even have Journalists in prison that have never been charged or convicted of any crime. Welcome to Tory Brittan, where questioning the government makes you vanish.
There’s more than adequate evidence of voter fraud in polling stations, particularly amongst some ethnic groups in metropolitan areas. Get your facts right.
Except in the minds of those who want to put people off voting.
The really funny thing is this is a massive own goal by the Tories. The young and “ethnic groups” are very used to carrying ID because of the way they are persecuted by the authority.
The geriatric traditional Tory voters, not so much
Wollen Gilet
2 years ago
I didn’t vote mainly because i had no idea who these potential PCC’s are or what they are proposing to achieve. In fact this is the first article i’ve seen that actually names them.
I’ve seen no information on social media, Twitter/X or a physical mail drop so how I’m i supposed to know who to vote for.
My vote has an intrinsic value and does not come for free.
My vote comes with expectations, one of which is that as potential candidates they should at a minimum spend time and effort setting out their stalls so that i can usefully cast my vote for whom i think is the best candidate for the IOW.
That didn’t appear to be done, so i don’t waste my time and effort voting for an invisible PCC candidate.
That sums it up. There must be elections coming as, in Ryde, recently had shiny paper through the door proclaiming itself to be a ” spring newsletter” from someone I have never heard of representing some political jokers.
Some people don’t have access to the internet, so those say see this or that website need to remember that.
Patriotic Islander
2 years ago
Doesn’t matter who gets the job, they will care about the Island just as little as they always have. That is why hardly anyone bothered to vote!
Davimel
2 years ago
Explain what this commissioner is supposed to do, and what even is the role in reality? Does he/she run the local force, or head yet another committee that suck up funding from front line Police. What is the Salary? what hours are expected? Do they need experience in Policing? Who decides who is to stand? How do you apply for consideration?.. LOTS of questions with no answers and yet WE are supposed to wander out and choose one over another.. Dream on!!!
4l0stoker
2 years ago
So these 10 comments made are all similar views of the voting process and the 83% that didn’t vote probably are similar views wonder if it will be noted that actually there is a problem or will it be ignored
BOB BAILEY
2 years ago
Absolutely a waste of time and money the same goes for the position of mayor pointless.
Lord lucan
2 years ago
Never understand why isle of wight takes part in this vote it pointless , because of the amount of votes mainland have compared to the isle, we just have to put up who mainland wanted, unlike our local elections that mean something.
Garry Willis
2 years ago
A Police Commissioner should not be aligned to a political party and none of the choices is based on the island
Liz
2 years ago
Who gives a damn anyway, there all useless and expensive!
Hamish Blackwood
2 years ago
So given the dire turnout of voters, the winning candidates claims of a “landslide win” is pushing the limits of credibility somewhat !
BusMans Holiday
2 years ago
I totally agree the PCC is a waste of public funds – £3 million for the Hampshire area alone.
I also believe yesterday was a wasted opportunity for us, the electorate, to show our voice.
We receive a polling card notifying us of an election.
With 1 google search & clicks to 4 websites, any voter can understand the policies of those standing.
It has never been the Government’s responsibility to notify us who we are voting for, or what they stand for – this is for the candidates seeking election to reach out to the electorate.
There was 1 candidate yesterday who stood to be “the turkey that voted for Christmas” and if elected seek to have the post abolished, with the £3m put back in policing the streets. I know where my X went.
that candidate wasn’t really planning to abolish the role – it was vote baiting – once in office he would have claimed that abolishing the role wasn’t an easy process and may not be able to be concluded during his four year term – no more would be said
Perhaps the powers that be should note the apathy of the public when it comes to the unnecessary posts of Police & Crime Commissioners. The posts just add another layer of bureaucracy and add to our local taxes for no real return. A 16% turnout says it all.
16 %!
just shows what we think this waste of money post!
It really doesn’t.
If people really wanted rid of this post they would vote Lib Dem who want to abolish it.
It really does. There would be no point voting for the politician who said they would work to abolish the role as politicians cannot be trusted to do what they say they will. If we had a true democracy, the options would have been 4 politicians and a fifth option of scrapping the role altogether. Many more people would then have voted. But then we don’t have a true democracy in this country anymore, we are told what we can vote for.
What a waste of time and money.
Which only goes to show how disaffected the population is with politics and politicians. They don’t want to waste their time voting for liars who will not do what they claimed they would do.
If you don’t vote you don’t have any right to complain about whoever is chosen by those who did.
Pretty basic, really.
A lot of people who are complaining are doing so because of the post, what value does this post have anyway.
What is needed is a posiiton that conttols the magistrates who are appallingly lenient.
Make getting photo id easier, photo costs are extortionate, why can’t each town hall have computer that someone could electronically upload and produce the id there and then.
The other 83.6 are too sensible to waste their time on this
Sh*t
Ye like the twats who did’nt and kept that wanker kahn in destroying london and all what he doe’s spreads to ALL of us..so ye that’s good then..
Why would anyone vote?
Who are these people? We know nothing about them at all.
Think people have just about given up here on this Island, the state of everything and it reflects in the votes.
Doesn’t the low turn out just show the opinion of the public, the PCC is a joke role, and the costs of this quango role far outweigh any real and tangible benefit it should be delivering .. If the PCC role was important and effective .. then perhaps the higher footfall would have occurred .. the incumbent (outgoing ? ) PCC has eroded the credibility of a PCC (IMO)
Was the first vote that included the voter suppression of the working class. Can’t afford to get a driving licence or past port, then no vote. Despite there being zero evidence that voting in person has a fraud issue. What does have a fraud issue, voting by mail. But that had no new checks added to it, nothing to check you are the person you say you are. Why? Because the majority of the postal votes go to the Tories.
The Tories have turned the UK into an autocracy. We even have Journalists in prison that have never been charged or convicted of any crime. Welcome to Tory Brittan, where questioning the government makes you vanish.
Fred, do us all a favour and disappear up your own backside.
There’s more than adequate evidence of voter fraud in polling stations, particularly amongst some ethnic groups in metropolitan areas. Get your facts right.
There really isn’t.
Except in the minds of those who want to put people off voting.
The really funny thing is this is a massive own goal by the Tories. The young and “ethnic groups” are very used to carrying ID because of the way they are persecuted by the authority.
The geriatric traditional Tory voters, not so much
I didn’t vote mainly because i had no idea who these potential PCC’s are or what they are proposing to achieve. In fact this is the first article i’ve seen that actually names them.
I’ve seen no information on social media, Twitter/X or a physical mail drop so how I’m i supposed to know who to vote for.
My vote has an intrinsic value and does not come for free.
My vote comes with expectations, one of which is that as potential candidates they should at a minimum spend time and effort setting out their stalls so that i can usefully cast my vote for whom i think is the best candidate for the IOW.
That didn’t appear to be done, so i don’t waste my time and effort voting for an invisible PCC candidate.
You obviously didn’t look at the IE site over the past week then, did you? Profiles of all candidates were given along with set questions and answers.
That sums it up. There must be elections coming as, in Ryde, recently had shiny paper through the door proclaiming itself to be a ” spring newsletter” from someone I have never heard of representing some political jokers.
Some people don’t have access to the internet, so those say see this or that website need to remember that.
Doesn’t matter who gets the job, they will care about the Island just as little as they always have. That is why hardly anyone bothered to vote!
Explain what this commissioner is supposed to do, and what even is the role in reality? Does he/she run the local force, or head yet another committee that suck up funding from front line Police. What is the Salary? what hours are expected? Do they need experience in Policing? Who decides who is to stand? How do you apply for consideration?.. LOTS of questions with no answers and yet WE are supposed to wander out and choose one over another.. Dream on!!!
So these 10 comments made are all similar views of the voting process and the 83% that didn’t vote probably are similar views wonder if it will be noted that actually there is a problem or will it be ignored
Absolutely a waste of time and money the same goes for the position of mayor pointless.
Never understand why isle of wight takes part in this vote it pointless , because of the amount of votes mainland have compared to the isle, we just have to put up who mainland wanted, unlike our local elections that mean something.
A Police Commissioner should not be aligned to a political party and none of the choices is based on the island
Who gives a damn anyway, there all useless and expensive!
So given the dire turnout of voters, the winning candidates claims of a “landslide win” is pushing the limits of credibility somewhat !
I totally agree the PCC is a waste of public funds – £3 million for the Hampshire area alone.
I also believe yesterday was a wasted opportunity for us, the electorate, to show our voice.
We receive a polling card notifying us of an election.
With 1 google search & clicks to 4 websites, any voter can understand the policies of those standing.
It has never been the Government’s responsibility to notify us who we are voting for, or what they stand for – this is for the candidates seeking election to reach out to the electorate.
There was 1 candidate yesterday who stood to be “the turkey that voted for Christmas” and if elected seek to have the post abolished, with the £3m put back in policing the streets. I know where my X went.
that candidate wasn’t really planning to abolish the role – it was vote baiting – once in office he would have claimed that abolishing the role wasn’t an easy process and may not be able to be concluded during his four year term – no more would be said
Not everyone has internet access!
Perhaps the powers that be should note the apathy of the public when it comes to the unnecessary posts of Police & Crime Commissioners. The posts just add another layer of bureaucracy and add to our local taxes for no real return. A 16% turnout says it all.