In the same email, Jeromé Freedman, the returning officer, explained that the ballots had been counted manually, unlike past elections, which have used an electronic system.
“The software license is no longer available,” he explained, adding that “an alternative software programme which allows for paper ballots was found to be unreasonably expensive and also untried.
“I apologise for the error, now thankfully corrected, to all deputies and particularly to the candidates.”