WOMAN, 98, LOSES 'LAST CHANCE' AFTER POSTAL BALLOT DID NOT ARRIVE

•  Flora Kelsey, 98, from Edinburgh says her postal vote failed to arrive on time
•  She has voted in every election since she was 21 and says this could be her last 
•  Follow the latest updates in our UK general election 2024 LIVE blog

A 98-year-old Scottish woman who has voted in every election since she turned 21 believes she may have been robbed of her last ever chance after her postal vote failed to arrive on time.

Due to the mishap, Flora Kelsey from Edinburgh, found herself unable to vote at her local polling station, collect an emergency replacement in person or apply for a proxy vote.

Ms Kelsey, from Corstorphine in Edinburgh West, where 33 per cent applied for a postal vote, said she felt she 'ought to vote' after exercising her democratic right at every election since she turned 21.

But she felt unable to visit an emergency facility to get a new pack in person, and was ineligible for a proxy vote as she had applied for a postal one. 

Her grandson George tried to act as her proxy, but said: 'She's been ticked off the register because she has to vote by postal vote. We're stuck.'

Edinburgh returning officer Paul Lawrence said: 'We've been doing everything we can to make sure as many people as possible are able to vote.'

City of Edinburgh Council's returning officer said the situation had been 'regrettable'. 

The incident occurred as the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) called for an urgent reform of election law in light of concerns that voters had been disenfranchised because of postal delays and photo ID requirements. 

Today marked the first General Election where voters needed photo ID, with some reports of people being turned away for not having the right documents. 

The AEA said there should be earlier deadlines for applying for postal ballots to give more time.

Almost a quarter of Scotland's four million voters applied for a postal vote at this election.

Royal Mail has however insisted there was no backlog of postal ballots. 

Among those voting in person, parties reported turnout was in line with other elections, despite expectations of a Labour landslide and the clashing of the start of the school holidays in Scotland depressing numbers.

Elsewhere, in North East Fife, farmer Kenneth Fraser, 86, was turned away from his polling station in Newburgh after being told he was in the wrong place. 

When his polling card proved he should vote there, staff apologised to Mr Fraser but his son, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, refused to accept it.

He called the police and said he was 'disappointed' at how his father had been treated.

Mr Fraser said: 'This could have cost my dad his vote. I rang Fife Council but it was just recorded messages so I phoned Police Scotland. They said what happened wasn't right and they were going to look into it.'

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2024-07-04T22:59:33Z dg43tfdfdgfd