More than 1,500 haven't received postal ballot packs in Plymouth

The city's constituencies were among the most hotly contested in the last election. Credit: PA Images

Plymouth City Council have revealed that 1,510 people who applied for a postal vote for this week's General Election, didn't receive their ballot in the post.

The city's constituencies were among the most hotly contested in the last election - with just over 500 votes separating Labour and the Conservatives in the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport seat.

In a statement Plymouth City Council say:

"We are still investigating the cause and will find out what happened and why. Our priority is to make sure that anyone affected can place their vote.

"We have already delivered replacement postal voting packs to more than half of those who hadn’t received one and are making special deliveries this morning to the remainder of people whose postal addresses are in the three constituencies.

"We are sorry for the confusion and any inconvenience caused by this problem. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure people who applied to vote by post can do so."

Plymouth City Council says it will issue replacement postal vote packs to anyone who has not received one, and applied before the deadline of May 23.

But for some even less fortunate, voting many now be a near impossibility.

One student, James Hardy, is abroad in Estonia on polling day and was relying on his pack arriving on time to cast his vote

Plymouth City Council have also confirmed that the Royal Mail was not at fault.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY POSTAL VOTE HAS GONE MISSING?

  • Anyone who has not received their postal vote pack should call Plymouth City Council on 01752 304866 or 304936.

Plymouth CC has so far issued more than 600 replacements. Credit: PA Images

HOW CAN I VOTE?

  • Replacement packs can be issued by the council. Royal Mail have offered to do a special delivery on the same day.

  • People can visit in person at the Council House between 8am and 9pm on Wednesday.

  • On polling day the Council can issue replacement postal vote packs from 8am until 5pm, which is the legal deadline for issuing replacement postal ballots, and votes must be received by us by 10pm.

  • Anyone who collects their postal vote pack from the Council House can place their vote immediately in a polling booth that has been set up in the Council House.

  • They can also take completed postal votes to a polling station on polling day.

  • Anyone who cannot make it to the Council House - next to the old Civic Centre in Armada Way- to pick up a replacement pack can nominate someone to collect it for them. Anyone doing this will be asked to provide identification.