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Royal Mail has blamed the government for voters not receiving their postal ballots ahead of Thursday’s election – and said there is “no backlog” in its system.
Earlier on Tuesday, Conservative minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News the government is “urgently” investigating why some people have still not received their postal ballots just two days before the election.
There are reports of thousands of postal ballots not being delivered in time, with postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake calling on Royal Mail “to do all they can” to make sure postal votes get to people in time.
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More than 90 constituencies, including those of cabinet ministers, have raised concerns about ballots failing to arrive, according to The Telegraph.
But Royal Mail said it is delivering postal votes as soon as they arrive in its network – and has called for a review of how the printing and administration of postal votes is handled before the ballot papers are given to Royal Mail.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We have no backlog of postal votes and, whilst we are not complacent, we remain confident that postal votes handed to us on time will be delivered prior to polling day.
“Where specific concerns have been raised, we have investigated and confirmed ballot packs are being delivered as soon as they arrive in our network.
“We would welcome a review into the timetable for future elections with all stakeholders to ensure that the system for printing and administering postal votes before they are handed to Royal Mail works as smoothly as possible.”
It is understood Mr Hollinrake has not raised his concerns with Royal Mail directly and the postal company has been in regular contact with the elections minister and authorities ahead of, and throughout, the election period.
Before Royal Mail commented, Ms Caulfield told Sky News: “Kevin [Hollinrake] is taking this very seriously. He’s in direct contact with the Royal Mail. Kevin is investigating this urgently.
“I know there’s extra resources going into this to try and do a sweep of all the sorting offices and make sure they’re out there.”
She added she is aware of “a number of” constituencies where people have not yet received their postal votes.
Ms Caulfield said those who will be at home on polling day this Thursday and have received a postal vote late can take them to their local polling station.
However, she said it is a concern for those who are away as the deadline to apply for a proxy vote, where someone else is allowed to vote on your behalf, has passed.
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Concerns in Scotland
There are specific concerns for voters in Scotland as schools broke up for the summer holidays on Friday, so many families have already left the country.
The SNP’s Stephen Flynn told Sky News the situation is a “shambles” and said his party had warned the Conservatives not to hold the election now as so many families in Scotland would be on holiday.
He said the government told them they could vote by post so the fact they have not received their ballots in time is “outrageous” and could affect the outcome of the vote where seats are tight.
He said the blame “lies at Sunak’s doorstep”.
Postal ballots will amount to about 25% of votes this year. File pic: iStock
25% voting by post
At the last general election, in 2019, 21% of people voted by post.
That number is expected to have increased by 20%, with more than 1.3 million postal vote applications made between 22 May and 19 June, according to the Local Government Association.
A spokesman said: “This unprecedented increase adds more pressure to an already complex process and overburdened system.
“Councils and electoral staff across the country have been doing their utmost to ensure the smooth running of this election and that people can vote.
“We are aware of reports of incidents where delays have happened. The postal vote system could benefit from review and more could be done to support Royal Mail and printers to be ready to deliver elections.”
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The deadline to register to vote by post was 19 June, with ballots normally arriving around a week before polling day.
Postal votes have to arrive by 10pm on polling day.
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