Police commissioner candidates in last-minute rallying
by political editor Paul Francis
Candidates vying to become Kent's first elected police and
crime
commissioner are trying to galvanise voters with just 48 hours
before
polls open and in the face of continuing fears of a record low
turnout.
Labour will step up its campaign with a visit to Chatham by
former
foreign secretary David Miliband, while independent candidate Ann
Barnes
will be out on the campaign trail in Ashford and Folkestone with
the
former independent MP Martin Bell.
It is Mr Bell's second visit to the county to endorse Mrs
Barnes'
campaign.
Conservative Craig Mackinlay said his team was continuing its
focus on
ensuring that it was contacting as many voters as possible ahead
of
Thursday's poll.
His campaign has been bolstered by the support of former Kent
deputy
chief constable Dr Allyn Thomas.
But there remain concerns that the low profile of the election,
coupled
with confusion among voters about the role of commissioners, could
see
less than one in five voting.
The Electoral Reform Society says turnout could be as low as 15%
- the
lowest in electoral history.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for organising the largest
vote in
Kent since the general election.
An estimated 1,000 polling stations across all 13 local
authority areas
will be open from 7am on Thursday (15) although counting the votes
will
not take place until Friday, with a result expected later in
the
afternoon.
The main counting centre will be Dover town hall.
12/11/12
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