AN OVERWHELMING majority of the electorate in the Epping Forest district chose to stay at home rather than vote in elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex yesterday.
A turnout of 10.34 per cent was recorded across the district with just 10,221 people out of an electorate of 98,862 bothering to vote.
The six candidates running in Essex are Conservative Nick Alston, Labour’s Val Morris-Cook, UK Independence Party candidate Andrew Smith, Robin Tilbrook of the English Democrats and independent candidates Linda Belgrove and Mick Thwaites.
Polling stations closed at 10pm last night.
The Epping Forest votes will be counted in Theydon Bois and forwarded to Chelmsford City Council where votes from across the county will be collated.
A result is expected later today, with the winner responsible for setting the force’s priorities, overseeing its budget and hiring its chief constable.
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