Postal vote delays being ‘urgently investigated’

The postal affairs minister is “urgently” investigating delays to postal ballots being delivered, a Tory minister has said.

Kevin Hollinrake has criticised Royal Mail for failing to deliver some ballots in time for the general election.

Maria Caulfield, a health minister, told Sky News on Tuesday morning: “[Mr Hollinrake] is taking this very seriously. He’s in direct contact with the Royal Mail.

“It doesn’t seem to be an issue in my constituency, but I know a number of colleagues where people haven’t received their postal votes and are worried about that.

“[Mr Hollinrake] 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.”

Postal vote delays across the country have forced Royal Mail to scramble to ensure that ballots are counted in time for the general election.

Extra staff are being drafted in to work on election night to make sure that ballots are collected from postal sorting offices and reach counts before polls close at 10pm on Thursday.

The Telegraph has discovered that voters in more than 90 constituencies, including those of Cabinet ministers, have concerns about their ballots failing to arrive.

Delayed postal votes can risk members of the electorate not being able to cast their ballot if they are not returned on time or if their papers are never received.

Several factors are understood to be causing the delays, including the short turnaround time for councils to process applications, problems with printers and issues with Royal Mail deliveries.

The crisis is fuelling fears among candidates that delays may cost them election on Thursday.

Responding to the news, Stephen Flynn, SNP’s Westminster leader, has said the postal voting system needs “huge reform”.

Some Scots have said they are without their postal voting pack and will not be able to cast a ballot ahead of Thursday’s election due to being on holiday.

The July 4 poll is taking place in the first week of the school holidays north of the border, with a higher than usual number of people expected to vote ahead of time.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Flynn said the issues risk disenfranchising voters.

He said: “I’m massively concerned about that, like almost every candidate across Scotland that I believe to be the case. I’ve had numerous emails from people who have not received their postal ballot.”

“You know, we warned the Prime Minister of this when it became apparent that he was going to choose the election date because, of course, for a huge majority of the people of Scotland, it’s now the school holidays, people are away on holiday.

“If their postal vote didn’t land in time, then they’re now disenfranchised from this election, they’re not able to vote for who they want to represent them at Westminster, whether that’s the SNP, or otherwise, that’s simply not good enough.”

The Westminster leader, who is running to retain his Aberdeen South seat, added: “I see some individuals are blaming the Royal Mail but the reality is the system is not fit for purpose, and we need to see huge reform.”