General Election postal vote delays – the place is affected as ballots do not arrive

Thousands of voters have been caught up in chaos over postal ballots which risks shutting people out of voting on polling day.

A blame-game began over who was at fault for delays to postal votes in some parts of the country, with reports suggesting more than 90 constituencies could be affected.

Royal Mail has sought to blame the Government for the tight timetable after Rishi Sunak stunned the country by calling a snap election on July 4. A spokesperson insisted there was “no backlog of postal votes” and it was confident that those handed in on time would be delivered.

But Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake suggested Royal Mail should have anticipated extra demand for postal votes during the summer holidays. It is the first July election since 1945, and coincides with the summer break in Scottish schools.

Here’s what we know about what’s going on – and what to do if you haven’t had your postal ballot.

What’s the problem?

Voters have been reporting issues with receiving their postal ballots ahead of polling day on Thursday. The deadline for registering for a postal vote was June 19 but some people still have received their ballot pack. Postal votes must have reached councils by 10pm on polling day to be eligible.

Postal voting has become more popular in recent years. Some people choose to vote this way because they are ill, housebound or plan to be away on polling day. Others simply prefer it.

Only 937,000 people voted by post in 1997 but this rose to 8.2million in 2019. Postal vote numbers are expected to exceed 10million at this election, a 20% increase from 2019, according to the Association of Electoral Administrators.

But councils and electoral administrators have raised concerns that the timetable is too tight – 11 working days from the deadline – as printing postal votes is complicated. Personalised postal vote statements must be matched with the correct ballot paper, personalised envelopes and instruction sheets. Election teams also need to carry out security checks.

The timing of the snap election may also be a factor. It is the first July election since 1945 and coincides with the summer holidays in Scotland. It was also called soon after the local elections in May, putting pressure on electoral administrators and councils.

Which councils have been affected?

Local authorities are responsible for sending out postal ballot packs to voters, so there is no centralised list of how many people are affected. However problems have been reported in a number of council areas.

• Blackburn and Darwen Council
• East Lothian Council
• Edinburgh City Council
• Fife Council

• Medway Council

• North Hertfordshire Council
• Southwark Council
• Teignbridge District Council, Devon

Have you been affected by postal vote delays? Get in touch at [email protected]

What to do if you haven’t received your ballot?

You can request a new ballot pack from your local authority. Replacements can be sent by post up until 5pm on Wednesday, July 3. Royal Mail has insisted all ballots will be delivered in time to be counted. Completed postal votes must have reached councils by 10pm on polling day.

You can also get a new ballot pack in person from your local council. This is possible up until 5pm on polling day. You need to bring voter ID to do this. There are 22 accepted forms of ID, including a passport, driving licence

What if I’m worried about posting it back in time?

If you are worried it won’t get there in time, you can hand in a completed ballot at your polling station on polling day. You can also take it to the address on your postal voting pack – council’s electoral-services team – during office hours before 5pm on polling day.

If you can’t go yourself, you can get someone to do this on your behalf. Voters can hand in a maximum of five postal ballots in addition to their own, but they have to complete a form at the polling station when doing so.

Can I apply for a proxy vote?

The election regulator says voters can only apply for an emergency proxy if something prevents them from voting that they were not previously aware of, such as a medical emergency, being away for work, or if voter ID is lost or stolen. So postal voting delays do not count.