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Thousands of voters across the UK have been over caught up in chaos over postal ballot issues ahead of general election polling day on 4 July – but which areas are affected and what happens if postal packs haven’t been received?
Concerns are mounting that thousands could miss out on the opportunity to vote after up to 90 constituencies reported problems with ballots not arriving on time.
The crisis has been caused by councils not printing enough ballot papers and Royal Mail not delivering on time, it is claimed.
Despite coming under fire for the delays, Royal Mail denies being the cause, blaming the tight timetable set by the government after Rishi Sunak called a snap election for July 4.
Thousands of voters across the UK have been caught up in chaos over postal ballot issues. This map shows the areas where delays have been reported
Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake told The Telegraph: ‘We urge Royal Mail to do all they can to make sure that postal votes get to the right people at the right time, and time is completely of the essence now. There’s a resourcing issue.’
He noted that Royal Mail should have prepared for the increased demand during the summer holidays, with the first July election since 1945 coinciding with the summer break in Scottish schools.
Here’s everything you need to know about the issue – and what to do if you haven’t received your postal ballot.
What is happening with postal ballots across the UK?
Voters have been reporting issues with receiving their postal ballots ahead of polling day on Thursday, July 4.
The deadline for registering for a postal vote was June 19 – but some people have yet to receive their ballot pack.
For a vote to be eligible, postal votes must have reached councils by 10pm on polling day.
Postal voting has grown in popularity over the years, with numbers rising from 937,000 in 1997 to 8.2 million in 2019.
This election is expected to see over 10 million postal votes, a 20 per cent increase from 2019, according to the Mirror.
The tight schedule has put additional pressure on councils to print and send out ballots correctly and securely.
Councils and electoral administrators have raised concerns that the timetable is too tight – 11 working days from the deadline – as printing postal votes is a complicated process and election teams need to carry out additional security checks.
Which areas across the UK have been affected by postal ballot delays?
Postal ballot delays have been reported in several council areas, including:
- Blackburn and Darwen Council
- East Lothian Council
- Edinburgh City Council
- Fife Council Medway Council
- North Hertfordshire Council
- Southwark Council
- Teignbridge District Council, Devon
What can I do if I haven’t received my postal ballot?
Voters who haven’t received their postal ballot can request a replacement from their local authority until 5pm today.
Royal Mail assures that all ballots will be delivered in time. Completed postal votes must reach councils by 10pm on polling day to be counted.
Voters can also collect a new ballot pack in person from their local council until 5 pm on polling day, bringing a valid form of voter ID – with 22 forms accepted, including a passport, driving licence, or valid Government-issued bus passes.
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