The Times view on postal ballot delays: Disenfranchised Voters

An electoral process that places arbitrary obstacles in the way of voters risks losing its claim to being free and fair. This is what makes the widespread mismanagement of postal votes so concerning. In over 90 constituencies alarms have been raised about ballots failing to arrive in time to be cast in tomorrow’s election, despite having been requested well before the June 19 deadline.

Though some delays appear to be parochial rather than systemic in origin, an underlying ­pattern is slowly emerging: councils have failed to print enough ballot papers and in some cases have been overwhelmed by a surge in demand for postal votes caused by a snap summer election, when holidaymakers had already planned to be away. Added to this are concerns that