Election observers find 'well-administered' process with room for improvement

Iinterim report finds issues with accessibility at polling stations

Election observers have found the House of Key's General Election last week 'broadly' met international standards but that there is room for improvement.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was invited to watch over the process by Tynwald.

Observers visited 44 polling stations on 23 September and watched over the final count in four of the 12 constituencies.

The organisation says voting across the Island took place in a calm and orderly manner however highlights several areas for improvement.

It says it found access to polling stations for persons with disabilities was 'feasible but difficult' - with half of the venues not 'independently accessible to voters with mobility issues because of a lack of an adequate step-free access'.

The CPA regards the fact a record number of 10 women were elected (42 per cent) despite only 15 women standing (23 per cent of candidates) a 'sharp improvement' compared to the previous election in 2016 when five women were elected.

Overall the group's head of mission, Stewart Dickson, says it was 'a well-administered and competitive' process.

A final report from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will be published by the end of November.