AN investigation has been launched into the whereabouts of more than 2,000 postal ballot forms for Thursday’s local elections and mayoral referendum.
Ninety people whose papers were within a batch of 2,167 contacted Leeds City Council to say they had not yet arrived.
The batch was the final one, due to be delivered by printers to Royal Mail for first class despatch on April 23.
Now the council has urged anyone who hasn’t got their postal ballot paper to get in touch.
Due to election rules, replacements cannot be sent out in the post as residents must show a proof of identity to collect them.
Leeds Town Hall was open tonight and tomorrow until 8pm for people affected to pick up replacement papers.
Tom Riordan, returning officer for Leeds City Council, said: “It’s unfortunate that out of nearly 100,000 postal packs that this number appear to have been mislaid. I’m satisfied that the council did everything it should to ensure that the ballot packs were ready and issued in plenty of time.
“We are making special arrangements to ensure everyone who registered to vote by post is able to do so. We urge people to contact us if their pack has not arrived.
“It will not be possible for people to vote twice, since if a request is received to re-issue a pack the original pack is cancelled. If the original is returned it would be rejected during verification of the votes.”
Anyone waiting for their ballot pack should call 0113 222 4411 to arrange to collect a replacement from the elections office at Leeds Town Hall on The Headrow.
The Town Hall will be open until 8pm tomorrow and until 5pm on Thursday – the normal legal deadline for the re-issue of postal ballot packs.
Car parking will be available for people picking up postal ballot packs and anyone with difficulties collecting a replacement should contact the council.
Completed postal votes can be returned by post until 5pm on polling day or handed in at polling stations or the Town Hall until 10pm.