Just 48 hours before the “landmark” poll in Britain, voters are reporting that they have not received their ballots.

The Royal Mail denies the charges and talks about extra staff. Those of us who chose to vote by post in this UK 4th of July election received a ballot pack around mid-June. In fact, even earlier than that there was an information sheet, which indicated what the next steps would be. At the bottom right of the leaflet it said: ‘If you have not received your postal vote by Friday 28 June, please call (phone number listed)’.

So this seems to be what thousands of voters did, mainly in her constituencies Southern England and Scotland, who never received their own ballot packs. Specifically, and according to the Telegraph newspaper, at least 90 of the UK’s 650 constituencies have reported delays in receiving and, inevitably, delivering postal ballots.

Britain’s Royal Mail insisted today that there were “no postal ballot delays”, adding that “where concerns have been raised, we have made the necessary inquiries and confirmed that ballot packages are delivered as soon as they reach our network”.

The Electoral Commission, on the other hand, confirmed that there are “pressures” in the process and reported that tens of thousands of postal votes were delivered just over the weekend.

The reason for the delays and the reactions

The delays are reportedly due to the short time councils have to consider applications for postal votes – it should be noted that voters had until June 19 to submit their application – Royal Mail’s problem with deliveries, but even problems with printers printing the necessary documents.

An additional problem, however, is the number of voters who choose to vote by mail. It is estimated that around 10 million Britons have chosen to exercise their right to vote by mail this year, which translates to 20% to 25% of the country’s electorate. It is recalled that postal voting has been implemented in the country since 2001, while the increase in the number of people choosing it is putting pressure on an “already complex”, as it is said, process.

With just 48 hours to go before the polls open in the UK national election and clearly every vote counts, the criticism of Royal Mail is sharp. Some candidates have already expressed concerns that last-minute chaos could cost them even victory.

However, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake is said to be treating the issue as “urgent”, with Home Secretary James Cleverley, whose constituency has also been hit with delays, urging voters today to “seek to exercise their democratic right”.

Is there a solution to the problem?

Already in Scotland, over the weekend, some “emergency centres” for postal votes were opened, while others offered to send replacement packages.

For its part, Royal Mail has pledged extra polling day staff to ensure postal votes reach counting stations in time before the polls close at 10pm on Thursday, while a Prime Minister’s spokesman said it was working with those involved. organizations in order to “resolve the issues that have arisen”.

The last option for those who received or will receive the ballot package at the last minute is to go to their nearest polling station on election day and hand in the envelope there. The Electoral Commission has indicated that any inquiry into the postal voting process will take place after the end of the national elections.