I’ve been denied a vote in this week’s elections by a setup with no plan B | Letter

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

After his postal vote didn’t turn up, Mike Cantor was told that he wouldn’t be able to participate in an election for the first time since 1959

I have voted in every general and local election since 1959, but I won’t be voting on 2 May. Not because I have lost faith in politics, but because my postal vote never arrived. When I phoned the electoral service office of my local authority on 26 April, I was told it would arrive within the next two days. It didn’t, so I phoned the office again on 29 April and was told I would have to go to the civic centre, which is several miles away, to be able to vote.

I pointed out that I had applied for a postal vote as I have very limited mobility and had no way of getting to the civic centre, as I no longer drive and I have no one who could go on my behalf. I asked if my vote could be brought to me. Answer: no. Why not? Security. I asked if, in the event that I could get to my local polling station, I would be able to vote. Again no, because I had requested a postal vote.

So I am being deprived of my democratic right to vote because there is no plan B in the event of a lost or not sent postal vote. This cannot be right.
Mike Cantor
London

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Wednesday, 01 May 2024

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