A MAN has spoken of his frustration after having problems with his postal vote for a second time this year.

Anthony Newman who lives in Tagwell Heights, Droitwich, and is a political scientist at Liverpool Hope University, says he has concerns others will be having a similar problems and fears he will now lose his vote ahead of this week’s election. The lecturer, who has a PhD in politics, explained that as academics were always on the road and he was generally not at home until weekends, he opted for postal votes.

“At the last elections (the European election) I didn’t get my ballot paper through the post until the day before,” he said.

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“I sent it off, but I suspect it didn’t get there in time. I had no faith so this time changed the address to get the paper sent out to, to my work. I didn’t have it through again, so I called them (last week). The council say it had been sent out.

“I checked (on Monday) and still had not had it. I called them, they said my options are to see if I get that one, cancel it and get it reissued, or make a 300-mile round trip to the council offices, which I can’t do. It is a really important election and it is looking likely I am going to lose my vote. I’m relying on getting it through the post.”

Mr Newman said he had complained to the Electoral Commission adding: “I am greatly concerned about how the loss of votes due to failures in the electoral and postal systems could impact on the distinct loss of confidence in the democratic system.”

Elaine Dicks, Wychavon District Council electoral services manager, said: “We can confirm Mr Newman’s ballot paper was posted to him on 27 November by First Class delivery.

“We have spoken to him and advised we are required to follow the lost ballot paper process as set in law. This means cancelling the first ballot paper and reissuing a new one, but as he cannot collect it from our office it would have to be posted again.

“Legally, to issue a new paper to him, the first one would have to be cancelled.”