Votes lost due to postal service selection

Wellington City Council Southern Ward Candidate Thomas Morgan was staggered today to discover that votes for the 2010 local body elections could be uncounted due to the postal service selected to have the voting papers returned to election officers.

‘There is the possibility of last minute voting on Thursday or Friday if voters get inspired yet these votes could be lost simply because the postal service used for the election is Standard Post rather than Fast Post’ said Thomas Morgan. He further said ‘Fast Post would have voting papers delivered to the returning officers early Saturday morning even if they are posted on Friday. Although people have had plenty of time post their vote this is a critical matter as a candidate could win a seat by a margin of only a few votes which happened in the 2007 election.’

In Wellington Fast Post Friday posted mail is delivered by 7.30am on Saturday to the 6140 post code Private Bag of Wellington City Council.

The current arrangements will mostly likely result in a vote posted on Thursday and especially Friday being discounted due to the two to three day Standard Post delivery time and a front-line N.Z. Post customer service officer confirmed the matter in an informal phone call this morning.

ENDS

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