Hundreds of voters left furious after failing to receive postal voting forms just days before General Election

HUNDREDS of Plymouth residents have been left fuming after failing to receive their postal voting forms just two days before the General Election.

Plymouth City Council has confirmed it has reissued “around 370 replacement ballot packs” to annoyed locals who have contacted them about the missing forms.

The council is now urging any other residents yet to receive their postal voting forms to call their officers.

The local authority and Royal Mail have launched an investigation into the missing ballot packs after officials claimed they had been sent out in accordance with regulations, which had been “confirmed by our printers”.

It’s not too late for those who applied for a postal ballot pack before the May 23 deadline and have not yet received them – voters can order replacement packs using a special delivery service on the same day.

They can also go in to the council offices during select times on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday or nominate someone to collect it for them, the council said.

A number of frustrated voters have taken to social media to complain about the missing ballot packs.

Elliot Phillips, 25, who is due to go on holiday before Election Day, said it was an “absolute joke”.

He wrote: "People are essentially being robbed of their right to vote."

"The whole point of postal votes is so that people who can't make it to a polling station can still vote.

“Their solution to postal votes not being delivered on time... is to get people to come down to the council offices.”

He added: "I'm lucky as the only reason I requested a postal vote is because I'm going on holiday later today.

“My boss let me out of work early so I can go and vote before I leave.

"I know some people now won't get the chance which is unacceptable and blaming it on the Royal Mail is utter b*******."

Another Plymouth local, Tom Carmichael, said he was forced to give up calling the council after five phone calls to the local authority yielded no results.

He said: "I've read that if my postal vote does arrive by Thursday morning, I'll be able to complete it and hand it in at my nearest polling station, so that's what I'm planning to do that at the moment, should it arrive before then."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "We are aware that a number of postal votes in Plymouth have not arrived with recipients.

"Royal Mail takes its responsibility of delivering election information very seriously and is investigating this matter urgently.

"We are currently working closely with the council to organise specific deliveries so that the individuals affected receive their ballot packs as soon as possible.”

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