Postal vote delays will hit all parties, warns John Swinney

John Swinney has warned all parties will be impacted by long delays to postal ballots being sent out across the country.

Scotland’s First Minister said he had been inundated with complaints from voters who fear they will miss out on the chance to vote.

He said on Saturday: “I suspect there’ll be effects on all political parties. But I think the crucial point is the disenfranchisement of individuals.”

Two councils – Edinburgh city council and Fife council – have taken the unusual step of setting up emergency centres where residents who have yet to receive their ballot can have one reissued, or can even cast their vote ahead of July 4.

The move came as councils across the UK struggle to send out postal ballots to everyone who has requested them.

Thousands are still to receive their votes despite there being less than one week until the election on July 4, with at least 13 constituencies across the country affected.

Eight of these are marginal, making postal votes more important in determining the result. Delayed deliveries could give candidates grounds to challenge the outcome, officials have said.

The Telegraph understands that the crisis has been caused by councils not printing enough ballot papers and Royal Mail not delivering them on time.

The July election coincides with thousands jetting off for the summer, with Mr Swinney saying he had warned of the risks of holding the general election in the Scottish school holidays.

He said: “There are steps that can be taken by local authorities to make facilities available so people can vote – I very much welcome what the city of Edinburgh council did yesterday, other local authorities are considering that as well.

“I’ve asked the election management board to address the fact that some local authorities have done that but others have not done so.”

One of the affected English constituencies is North West Essex, where Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is fighting to retain her seat. Uttlesford district council sent out as many as 2,600 postal votes in the seat late following “human error”.

Chris Highcock, the secretary of the electoral management board for Scotland, said: “We’re doing all we can to ensure that every voter that’s entitled to vote in this election is able to take part – councils right across Scotland, and indeed the UK are taking measures to make sure that if any postal votes haven’t been received, voters can collect replacement ballot papers and make sure that they can have their say in this important election.”

Speaking to Radio 4’s Today Programme Mr Highcock added: “I think the first thing we have to say is that the logistical timetable that we have to operate to, for any UK election, is already very tight. That’s been exacerbated in Scotland at this time, as many families have planned to be away on holiday.

“We want to make sure that everyone can take part in an election if they’re entitled to vote, but also it’s very important that elections are secure, so that people can trust the results.”

He said materials were “produced under secure conditions” and that “staff have been working very hard right across the UK” since the election was called.

Mr Highcock, who is also returning officer for Edinburgh city council, added: “In Scotland, 20 per cent of all voters are now postal voters that has grown significantly in the last few years.

“In 2019 in Edinburgh, we had just over 72,000 postal voters, we’ve now got 103,000. That’s a 42 per cent increase in that time.”

Glasgow city council said that voters who applied for a postal vote after 5pm on June 7 but before June 19 could expect ballots to arrive on Saturday after “assurances by Royal Mail”, with 7,619 people in that category.

A statement said: “If a pack has not arrived by Monday, we will issue a replacement from our election office.”