Edge: People need to have confidence in elections

It was agreed a recount was the appropriate next step

Former MHK Julie Edge says an election recount is vital to protecting public confidence after a full recount was ordered for Onchan's election result. 

Ms Edge presented her case before First Deemster Andrew Corlett, where it was agreed a recount was the appropriate next step. 

She said the Deemster appeared to agree, but its timing and any further action remain dependent on the court’s decision and the recount’s findings.

Ms Edge said she had been unable to verify the figures before filing her petition and believed that the count was conducted differently from previous elections she had observed in Onchan, was declared quickly and left discrepancies in the figures.

Speaking to Manx Radio, she stressed her case was about electoral integrity across the island, not solely the constituency. 

She also said concerns had been raised about postal votes elsewhere, although the recount would need to happen before further steps could be determined.

Ms Edge also said that other concerns about issues such as voter identification and polling cards sent to addresses where voters no longer lived show the issues should be reviewed Island-wide: