Little more to add in response to this than Vanders9’s comments at post 44. Of course no human institutions are perfect, and there’s no absolute guarantee - but in practice the scrutiny of the count is such that it would be very difficult for a returning officer to play hanky-panky and get away with it, even if he wanted to. Also worth noting that the Electoral Commission, the independent supervisory body to which returning officers are accountable, is itself accountable to Parliament, not Government - an important distinction.
“Also worth noting that the Electoral Commission, the independent supervisory body to which returning officers are accountable, is itself accountable to Parliament, not Government - an important distinction.”
Indeed it is an important distinction. Existing ‘elected’ politicians directly judging the results of their own elections. I suppose that is better than having the ‘king’ do it but im not sure how in the light of the present climante.
Still if your allowed to watch the investigation at every stage and for every vote Then hopefully you may at least have an alarm to know something is wrong. That is indeed better than we have in some states.