Voting down almost 800

Friday 25th April 2008, 2:29PM BST.

THE number who voted in Wednesday’s general election was 778 down on four years ago.

Out of the 33,201 on the electoral roll there were 18,576 voters, a 56% turnout compared with 60% four years ago.

Turnout was down in all districts, with West faring best with only a 3.9% decline from 64%, whereas the South-East plunged from 69% in 2004 to 57%.

Deputy registrar-general of electors Brian Richings said that despite the controversy surrounding the electoral roll, the number of recorded errors in the election process had fallen compared with previous years. In 2000, the last time the electoral roll was rolled over, more than 100 mistakes were recorded.