EU ballot error upsets Dalton couple

May 29 2009 By Dave Himelfield

EU ballot error upsets couple

A BALLOTING error has upset a pair of voters in the upcoming European elections.

Dalton woman Jackie Rothery, 62, was mistakenly issued with two ballot papers for the elections on June 4.

And her husband, John, 63, was sent a ballot paper with the wrong number on it.

The Dalton pair received their postal votes last week.

John, a maintenance engineer, said: “This is the first time we’ve asked for the postal vote and we shall be voting in the European elections.

“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

“I think somebody has made a mistake and with the ballot papers having numbers on them there’s a problem and everyone after us will have a paper that’s wrong.

“I’m concerned some people might have invalid ballot papers.

“I could have filled mine in and sent it off.”

A leaflet sent out to voters from Kirklees Council states: “Electoral fraud is a crime which may be punishable with imprisonment.

“You must not vote using a ballot paper that is not addressed to you or interfere with another voter’s ballot paper.”