Islanders 'really cross' over postal vote delays

Postal ballots must reach the elections team by 22:00 BST on election day to be counted

Voters in the Channel Islands have reported delays receiving their postal ballots, with some yet to receive their forms ahead of Thursday's UK general election.

Jilly Perkins, 75, from Guernsey, said she applied for her vote weeks before the deadline but had still not received her ballot.

Mrs Perkins, who is registered in the constituency of Telford in Shropshire, said she was "really frustrated".

The Electoral Commission said it had previously recommended "new approaches" to support overseas voters.

Mrs Perkins said she confirmed with officials in Telford that she had been successfully registered but had still not received her ballot.

She said: "My vote was not going to make a huge amount of difference. But the fact I voted – would have voted – was very important to me.

"I made every effort I could to register for my vote.

"I'm really cross about this."

Voters in Jersey have also reported on social media they were yet to receive their packs.

'Annoys me'

Sara Clarke, 54, a supply teacher from Guernsey, said she received her ballot papers on Monday evening.

Mrs Clarke, who grew up in Cambridgeshire and moved to Guernsey in 2015, said she registered to vote for the first time in more than a decade after rules for offshore voters were relaxed.

However, she was worried her postal vote would not be received in time.

Postal ballots must reach councils by 22:00 BST on election day to be counted.

Mrs Clarke said: "It annoys me because I've gone to the effort of wanting to have my voice heard and it's not going to be heard, potentially.

"Unless the post gets there and I'm not even going to know if my vote counts."

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'Hacked off'

Pete Allen, 59, an electrician from Alderney, said he had not received his voting papers despite his constituency in York confirming they had been sent on 24 June.

Mr Allen, a former member of the armed forces, said he previously "hadn't taken much interest" in UK politics since returning to the island, but had been "hacked off" that he had not been able to vote in the Brexit referendum.

He said he had decided to vote in order to have a "very small say in a very big thing".

Mr Allen said as well as being "frustrated" that he wouldn't be able to vote he was "annoyed with the system that can't cope with something it was expecting".

Robert McDowall, 75, a company director from Alderney, campaigned for the 15-year time limit for overseas voters to be removed.

While Mr McDowall received his own ballot several weeks ago, he said "about 12" Alderney residents, including Mr Allen, had contacted him to say they had experienced delays receiving their papers.

He said he supported verified electronic voting in future, such as the system used in New Zealand, to prevent postal vote delays.

The issues in the Channel Islands come after concerns were raised in the UK.

Voters who are in their UK constituency on polling day can submit their ballots in person with valid photo ID.

'Limited options'

The Electoral Commission said: "At this stage in the election, there are unfortunately limited options for overseas voters who have yet to receive their postal vote.

"The commission has previously recommended that new approaches be considered to support overseas voters to have their say, given the short timetable involved.

"Following this election, we will undertake further research with voters and electoral administrators to understand their experiences at this poll, including on the issue of postal voting."