I have been receiving emails from resident who have not received postal votes from
Rutland County Council. An example is shown below.
I have notified the Electoral Commission and The Tory Returning Officer Helen
Briggs. Not that they will take any action.
Rutland Postal Voters - Disenfranchised?
"Some Rutland postal voters are still waiting for their postal packs for the General Election and the local elections. They've been told to ring RCC tomorrow (Wednesday) if they haven't received their postal ballot papers as apparently they are still being issued!
With only 9 days to go before polling day, how many votes have been lost as some postal voters might have already left for holiday and how many Rutland electors have been disenfranchised as a result?
Is it time the Electoral Commission investigated the electoral processes operated by RCC's Returning Officer, Helen Briggs?"
Sent from my iPad
Dear Mr Brookes
Thank you for your email.
Personal attack against my blog redacted
In total the following numbers of postal votes have been sent out on the following dates (the statement of persons nominated was published on 10th April 2015):-
Issued 16th April 1,333
Issued 21st April 2,715
Issued 27th April 547
The majority of Postal Votes were sent out earlier than in previous years exactly to give voters a greater opportunity to send back their postal votes. The Electoral Commission guidance requires that Postal Votes must be issued as soon as practicable. I believe we have more than met this requirement.
The final date for registering to vote was 20th April 2015
The final date for registering for a postal vote was 21st April 2015
In view of the above there is always a requirement to send out a later allocation of postal votes. To that end on Monday 27th April the final batch of postal votes was despatched totalling 547. Clearly once the deadlines for application for postal votes has passed we are required to make arrangements for Postal Votes to be sent as requested. If these are to be sent to recently registered voters then we are required to perform certain checks to ensure that the registration is valid.
In the period 1st April to 1st May 2015 we have added 550 to the Electoral Register. Since the 13th April we have had 547 additional requests for Postal Votes.
For reference to date we have received a return 46% of the postal votes sent out. With 8 days to go including polling day I am confident of a good overall response.
If anyone has a query about the election they should contact the Election team by email elections@rutland.gov.uk or by telephone on 01572 720954
Regards
Helen Briggs acting returning officer for Rutland
Rutland County Council. An example is shown below.
I have notified the Electoral Commission and The Tory Returning Officer Helen
Briggs. Not that they will take any action.
Rutland Postal Voters - Disenfranchised?
"Some Rutland postal voters are still waiting for their postal packs for the General Election and the local elections. They've been told to ring RCC tomorrow (Wednesday) if they haven't received their postal ballot papers as apparently they are still being issued!
With only 9 days to go before polling day, how many votes have been lost as some postal voters might have already left for holiday and how many Rutland electors have been disenfranchised as a result?
Is it time the Electoral Commission investigated the electoral processes operated by RCC's Returning Officer, Helen Briggs?"
Sent from my iPad
Dear Mr Brookes
Thank you for your email.
Personal attack against my blog redacted
In total the following numbers of postal votes have been sent out on the following dates (the statement of persons nominated was published on 10th April 2015):-
Issued 16th April 1,333
Issued 21st April 2,715
Issued 27th April 547
The majority of Postal Votes were sent out earlier than in previous years exactly to give voters a greater opportunity to send back their postal votes. The Electoral Commission guidance requires that Postal Votes must be issued as soon as practicable. I believe we have more than met this requirement.
The final date for registering to vote was 20th April 2015
The final date for registering for a postal vote was 21st April 2015
In view of the above there is always a requirement to send out a later allocation of postal votes. To that end on Monday 27th April the final batch of postal votes was despatched totalling 547. Clearly once the deadlines for application for postal votes has passed we are required to make arrangements for Postal Votes to be sent as requested. If these are to be sent to recently registered voters then we are required to perform certain checks to ensure that the registration is valid.
In the period 1st April to 1st May 2015 we have added 550 to the Electoral Register. Since the 13th April we have had 547 additional requests for Postal Votes.
For reference to date we have received a return 46% of the postal votes sent out. With 8 days to go including polling day I am confident of a good overall response.
If anyone has a query about the election they should contact the Election team by email elections@rutland.gov.uk or by telephone on 01572 720954
Regards
Helen Briggs acting returning officer for Rutland
