New Ballot Papers Issued To Postal Voters

Postal voters in the constituencies of Ceredigion, Preseli Pembrokeshire, and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire are being advised to wait for new ballot papers to be sent to their home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This follows the discovery of a printing error on papers for the Assembly Regional Election. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Electors will have received their postal voting packs for the May 5 elections containing three ballot papers. The ‘grey’ Regional Ballot Paper however contains a small error in the instructions on how to vote. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The correct instructions should state that electors should vote only once by putting a cross in the box next to their choice. The incorrect version wrongly states that electors should vote for only one candidate by putting a cross in the box next to their choice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The error was identified earlier this week, and has now been rectified. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A revised ballot paper is now being issued. Voters who have received ballot papers are being advised to wait for the new ballot paper to arrive. The revised ballot paper is tan coloured and replaces the grey paper. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Voters who have already returned their postal votes will not lose their vote, but are simply being asked to vote again and return the revised (tan) ballot paper in the new pre-paid envelope. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All other ballot papers, i.e., for the Constituency and Police and Crime Commissioner, are unaffected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ballot papers sent to electors in Carmarthenshire constituencies of Llanelli and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr are unaffected. Powys and Gwynedd constituencies are also unaffected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Regional Returning Officer, Mark James, said: “It appears that a computer error by printers who prepare papers for Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire led to an unfortunate misprint. This has only affected postal votes in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire constituencies. It does not affect Carmarthenshire constituencies of Llanelli and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr. Powys and Gwynedd are also unaffected. Papers have been reprinted and reissued and will arrive with those voters affected by the weekend.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhydian Thomas, Head of Electoral Commission, Wales, said: “We are aware that the Assembly regional ballot paper issued to postal voters in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion includes an incorrect instruction. The Commission has spoken with the Assembly Regional Returning Officer for Mid and West Wales and advised that the affected ballot papers should be reprinted and reissued in a different colour, with new voter instructions and a covering letter explaining the situation also sent to affected voters.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Electors in the Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion affected by the error are asked to contact the below numbers should they have any questions: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​