Government ‘urgently’ investigating general election postal ballot delays

The government is “urgently” investigating why some people have not yet received their postal ballots ahead of Thursday’s election.

Conservative minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News she is aware of “a number of” constituencies where people have not yet received their postal votes.

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.

More than 90 constituencies, including those of Cabinet ministers, have raised concerns about ballots failing to arrive, according to The Telegraph.

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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.”

Ms Caulfield added that 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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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.

Senior SNP Stephen Flynn told Sky News the situation was 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”.

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.