Printing problems put vote in trouble (From Warrington Guardian)

Printing problems put vote in trouble

VALE Royal Borough Council has been forced to put into place a contingency plan to prevent the much-delayed distribution of ballot packs having a 'catastrophic impact' on forthcoming European elections.

Two contingency delivery points will now be opened to help electors return their ballot envelopes.

Royal Mail was delivering the ballot papers yesterday and Vale Royal Borough Council is hopeful they will all arrive on time.

A firm contracted to print the ballot papers failed to meet a Royal Mail deadline and Sir Howard Bernstein, regional returning officer, last week asked local authorities what they were doing to solve the problem.

He said: "It is the responsibility of local authorities to produce these ballot packs and I want to hear at first hand how this essential work is progressing.

"It is imperative that local authorities ensure these packs are produced and delivered to Royal Mail as quickly as possible."

He added: "We have always been confident of our capacity to issue ballot packs by the June 1 deadline.

"Over the weekend, we have seen steady progress in achieving this goal.

"More than 90 per cent of ballot packs have now been issued and the remaining will be issued within the deadline."

Vale Royal Borough Council confirmed yesterday that all the ballot papers were with Royal Mail. The matter was raised by George Osborne, MP for Tatton, in the House of Commons on Wednesday last week.

In his address he said: "Owing to problems with the printing of postal ballots, there may be a delay of up to a week in sending them out. Of course this could have a catastrophic impact on the election."

A contingency delivery point will be available from June 1 to June 10 at the Information Centre, Northwich, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

A delivery point will also be available at the council offices, Castle Park, Frodsham, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The boxes will be collected each evening and held overnight in secure storage.

The delivery points will be open for receipt of completed ballot envelopes only and no advice or assistance will be available at these points. Postal votes must be in the mail no later than noon on June 8.

phennessey@guardiangrp.co.uk