'Sloppy' administration at by-election

A TOWN by-election will go ahead today – despite concerns about an administrative mix-up.

Twenty out of 400 postal voters in the Beverley Town Council election for the Beverley Minster South ward seat were sent an incomplete voting pack.

Normally postal voters gets two envelopes to return their votes – one to put their ballot paper in, marked A, and a pre-paid envelope, marked B. However, some voters were sent two envelopes marked B.

East Riding Council said the four candidates had been informed and the blunder did not “impact on the integrity of the election”.

Anyone affected is advised to put their ballot and voting statement into envelope B.

But Labour candidate Paul McGrath said the “sloppy” administration caused “great concern”, particularly with a General Election coming up.