Officials plan checks after Royal Mail delivered postal votes late – Brighton and Hove News

Election officers plan to test the Royal Mail supply workplace on basic election polling day to make sure that no postal votes are left behind.

They intention to stop a repeat of the issue final yr when the Royal Mail delivered practically 1,500 postal votes to Brighton and Hove Metropolis Council the day after polling day.

On the time, in Might 2023, the council’s deputy returning officer Michael Appleford despatched a strongly worded letter to Royal Mail and raised the problem with the Electoral Fee.

After the native elections in Might final yr, Councillor Steve Davis mentioned that there had been simply 19 late postal votes on the 2019 native elections.

The Inexperienced opposition chief added that the variety of late postal votes nationally had totalled 23,389.

Final month, far fewer votes arrived late for the 2 council by-elections – in Kemptown and Queen’s Park wards – and for the Sussex police and crime commissioner (PCC) election.

Votes needed to be within the council’s fingers by 10pm on Thursday 2 Might – and of the 27,385 postal votes issued, 151 arrived too late as follows.

• Tuesday 7 Might – 53 votes arrived
• Wednesday 8 Might – 38
• Monday 13 Might – 9
• Tuesday 14 Might – 50
• Wednesday 15 Might – 1

The Kemptown and Queen’s Park by-elections every had seven postal votes arriving late on the identical days because the delayed PCC put up.

Brighton and Hove Metropolis Council mentioned: “Our appearing returning officer is working carefully with Royal Mail and can proceed to take action all through this election interval.

“At our most up-to-date election – the Might 2024 PCC vote – the variety of postal voting packs obtained after the shut of ballot was not vital.

“For the overall election, a deputy appearing returning officer can even be visiting the Hove supply workplace on polling day to test for any undelivered postal voting packs.”

Anybody wishing to vote within the basic election on Thursday 4 July must be registered by 5pm on Tuesday 18 June. Postal votes should be registered by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June.

For individuals who should not have the required photographic ID, the deadline for registering for a voter authority certificates is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. The identical deadline applies for making use of for a brand new proxy vote.

To vote in particular person, electors have to take their photograph ID (identification) – equivalent to a passport or driving licence – to their designated polling station.

They open at 7am on Thursday 4 July and shut at 10pm.