The City of Edinburgh Council has announced that it is setting up an emergency polling station to allow residents who have not been issued with their postal votes to cast their vote in person. The council has also said that residents who have yet to receive their postal vote but will not be at home on 4 July can have their voting pack reissued. These options will be available at the City Chambers from Friday until Sunday. The move was made in response to calls for a review of the postal voting system across Scotland after voters reported not receiving their ballots just a week before polling day.
The Electoral Management Board for Scotland has said that there have been “many difficulties experienced with the delivery of postal votes” across the country. Voters in the capital can collect their new pack at the City Chambers and, if required, can vote there up to 5 p.m. The facility will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It is essential for voters to bring photo ID to the building on High Street.
The council has said that it is prioritizing those who will not be at home next week and urged anyone who is not leaving the country to wait for delivery of their postal vote. However, the council added that anyone who has not had their pack by early next week should contact the council. The surprise decision by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to call a July election has posed additional challenges in Scotland as schools broke up this month for the summer holidays. Many families will be out of the country on polling day.
The returning officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence, said, “I appreciate the concerns of voters on this issue, and my absolute priority, is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote in this General Election. That’s why we’ve taken the decision to put in extra resources and open the City Chambers this weekend.” Mr. Lawrence also encouraged anyone who has already received their postal vote to return it as soon as possible, through Royal Mail
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