BALLOT boxes for the Devon County Council wards in the Mid Devon District Council area started to arrive at Mid Devon District Council’s offices at Phoenix House at nine minutes past 10 on Thursday, May 1, the first box arriving from Bolham.

During the next few hours boxes arrived from across the district, the furthest still due to arrive after midnight from the remote parts at Chawleigh, Coldridge and other areas beyond Crediton.

Another ballot box arriving at Phoenix House, Tiverton. AQ 9905
Another ballot box arriving at Phoenix House, Tiverton. AQ 9905 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

One of the first ballot boxes being emptied at Tiverton. AQ 9921
One of the first ballot boxes being emptied at Tiverton. AQ 9921 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

On arrival the boxes were registered and taken upstairs where a bank of staff were waiting to begin the verification process.

This began after a few minutes, postal votes verified first, then the boxes began to be taken to tables for those to be opened and the votes poured out for verification.

The verification process is expected to take several hours, at least until 3am.

An unusual sight, one party’s observers had numbered stickers on the front and back at Tiverton. AQ 9925
An unusual sight, one party’s observers had numbered stickers on the front and back at Tiverton. AQ 9925 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

While this is taking place, some of the candidates and candidate representatives, including from the range of usual political parties, watch all the verification process take place, trying to get some idea of how many votes candidates have received.

The ballot papers are guarded overnight and the official count will take place from about 11am today, Friday, May 2.

It is anticipated that results will begin to be announced during the early and mid afternoon of May 2.

A queue of people arriving to hand in the ballot boxes at Phoenix House. AQ 9928
A queue of people arriving to hand in the ballot boxes at Phoenix House. AQ 9928 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

The candidates vying to become the next county councillor for Crediton are: Reform UK candidate Charles Beasley, Liberal Democrat candidate Jim Cairney, Conservative candidate Angus Howie, Heritage Party candidate Wesley Mitchell, Green Party candidate Rob Rickey and Labour candidate Paul Vincent.

A seventh candidate, independent Rebecca Emily Sales, withdrew from the contest in recent weeks.

Liberal Democrat Frank Letch MBE was the county councillor for the division, which covers Crediton, Copplestone, Bow, Cheriton Bishop and Venny Tedburn, until his death on April 8 at the age of 80.

Phoenix House at Tiverton, Mid Devon District Council’s headquarters. AQ 9931
Phoenix House at Tiverton, Mid Devon District Council’s headquarters. AQ 9931 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Elections are taking place in 23 councils across England, at 14 county councils, eight unitary authorities and one metropolitan district.

Six mayoral elections are also happening and there are also council elections in the Isles of Scilly.