How hard is it really to put tables in sensible places for an election count?

In its report on May’s local elections, the Electoral Commission is rather generous – over-generous even – in burying this point a long way down the document:

[Electoral] Commission representatives also commented that in some cases the layout of tables at some counts made it difficult for observers, candidates and agents to see the ballot papers as they were counted.

Some credit is due to the Electoral Commission for starting to raise what has been a long-running issue. More credit will be due if effective action follows.