Derbyshire man 'disappointed' after 'computer error' denies him postal vote in county council election

John Spencer 62, of Hathersage, is ‘disappointed’ and concerned about the number of other voters who could have found themselves in the same position.

Derbyshire Dales District Council says it has provided Mr Spencer with replacement papers, but he claims there now won’t be time for he and his wife to vote by post.

"We moved into out current home a few months ago and registered to vote,” Mr Spencer, a retired journalist, said.

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"We requested a postal vote and received confirmation from the council. I’d tried several times previously but got through to the council today to be told a computer error meant a number of postal ballots had not gone out.

"We are all obliged to register as voters, but it is disappointing that the councl, due to this error, has not provided a form to do so in time.

"My options were to go and collect a form from Matlock or have it posted out, but it would never have been sorted in time.”

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A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: “Out of an electorate of more than 44,000 there are always a very small number of issues and unfortunately lost and missing papers are a normal part of the postal vote process.

"That's why we always print additional blank postal vote packs for replacement purposes.

"Our elections team spoke to Mr Spencer this morning and he has been issued with replacement papers.”