Postal voters receive two votes by mistake

The second postal vote was sent to people in North Jesmond

Some postal voters were incorrectly sent two packets for the upcoming local elections, one of which said they could vote for two candidates.

The erroneous packs were sent to postal voters in the North Jesmond ward in Newcastle.

Each pack contained a voting form for the May elections for North Jesmond councillor, the North East mayor and the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.

Newcastle City Council said they had contacted all affected voters directly to rectify the issue and apologised for the inconvenience caused.

The local authority said a supplier mistake had led to North Jesmond postal voters mistakenly receiving a second voting pack.

The instructions in the second voting pack incorrectly said people could vote for two members of the city council.

A council spokesman said: "We were notified of this supplier error and have quickly put measures in place, in cooperation with the Electoral Commission and candidates, agents and existing members in the sole affected ward, to clarify instructions and to support our residents to vote."

The Electoral Commission said they had provided guidance and advice to the local authority.

"They are putting processes in place to ensure that people are unable to vote twice as a result of the error," a commission spokesman said.