Delays to postal vote delivery being urgently investigated, says minister

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Kevin Hollinrake criticised Royal Mail over delays in postal votes arriving “Kevin is taking this very seriously,” she told Sky News. “If people have only just received their postal vote, they can take it to their polling station on election day and it will still be counted.” Royal Mail will also be conducting sweeps of their delivery system on polling day to make sure any ballot packs still in the postal system are identified and passed to returning officers ahead of polls closing, the Government said. open image in gallery Voters have complained about delays receiving postal ballots A spokesperson said: “We have no backlog of postal votes and, whilst we are not complacent, we remain confident that postal votes handed to us on time will be delivered prior to polling day. “We would welcome a review into the timetable for future elections with all stakeholders to ensure that the system for printing and administering postal votes before they are handed to Royal Mail works as smoothly as possible.” The electoral watchdog has said it recognises the pressures on the postal voting system due to the holiday season and will look into its administration after this election.