Brett Robson wrote:

> I have no idea, but I'm not surprised. But in Australia the votes are counted at
> the polling booth and the counting is watched by representatives of the
> political parties, there's a word for them but I can't remember

Scrutineers. An experienced scrutineer will also often know the result 
at an individual polling booth a good 15-20 minutes before the officer 
in charge of the booth.


-- 
"Thank God I'm an atheist" - Luis Bunuel