No Postal Ballot problems? ...here's another!

Northern Echo
25th October

Confusion and concern over ballot paper envelopes gaffe
by Kate Bowman
VOTERS have been left worried and confused by the inclusion of a charity gift aid envelope in their ballot papers for next month's referendum for an elected regional assembly.
The envelope, marked World Cancer Research Fund, has been found in a number of ballot packs in Darlington, in place of the envelope needed to return residents' postal votes.
Darlington Borough Council yesterday assured people that their votes would still get to the authority's electoral office, even if posted in the charity envelope marked with a Sunderland address.

Caleb Mohon, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, said he thought the mix-up would prevent some people from voting.
"At first I thought it was an advertising stunt, but quickly realised there was no envelope to return my vote," he said.
"I think the worrying thing is that anyone posting their paper back in the charity envelope will not know if it gets to the right place, or whether their vote will count.
"It is important to us in the North-East to make clear what we want. Your democratic right does not seem important until you realise it does not exist because the vote is invalid."

Royal Mail has posted 1.9m ballot papers to addresses across the region in time for the referendum on November 4.

Votes will be returned to counting offices in each local authority before being collected and announced in Sunderland.

Darlington Borough Council blamed a printing error for charity envelopes ending up in the ballot papers, but were unsure how many packs have been affected.
"Votes posted in these envelopes will still get here and will still count," said a council spokesperson.
"Royal Mail is redirecting them to Darlington's Town Hall because our bar code is visible through the window in the envelope."

People can call the council to request the correct envelope on (01325) 388351.
Meanwhile, a Welsh MP who hails from County Durham is the latest supporter of the proposed assembly to urge the North-East to vote Yes.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Jackie Lawrence, who was brought up in the village of Gainford, near Barnard Castle, feels a regional assembly will give local people a real say on local services.
Mrs Lawrence said: "The existence of the assembly in Wales has given a real voice to the people of Wales on how their health, education and other services are delivered.
"Vital decisions in these areas are no longer made in London but by local people with local needs in mind."