When postal ballots started dropping through Lagan Valley letterboxes today, it was discovered that the UUP’s logo has been placed beside the DUP candidate Brenda Hale. Cue a rapid reprint of ballot papers and reissuing of postal ballots in Lagan Valley.
An Electoral Office for Northern Ireland statement said:
A printing error has been identified on the Assembly Election postal ballot papers delivered to electors in the Lagan Valley constituency. AV Referendum and Local Government ballot papers are unaffected. The office regrets any inconvenience to electors and candidates and has taken immediate steps to rectify the error. As the original Assembly election ballot paper is void all electors affected are being sent a replacement ballot paper along with a letter of explanation.
DUP leader Peter Robinson tweeted:
Massive blunder by Electoral Office in Lagan Valley. Postal voters received ballot papers describing the DUP’s Brenda Hale as UUP candidate.
The EO will send new papers + explanatory letter but this will have serious consequences. Small number of lost votes in PR can cost a seat.
@KenReid_utv That doesn’t solve problem. Many will not fill out second ballot paper. Some may be away from their homes by time it arrives.
@KenReid_utv Brenda Hale must have an open and shut libel case against Electoral Office – calling her a UUP candidate!!
Of course, if any of the candidates had sent an agent to observe the postal ballots being issued at the Banbridge Area Electoral Office, they might have noticed the mistake before they reached the voters …
Alan Meban. Tweets as @alaninbelfast. Blogs about cinema and theatre over at Alan in Belfast. A freelancer who writes about, reports from, live-tweets and live-streams civic, academic and political events and conferences. He delivers social media training/coaching; produces podcasts and radio programmes; is a FactCheckNI director; a member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland; and a member of the Corrymeela Community.
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