DUMFRIES and Galloway Council has come under fire for issuing misprinted postal ballot packs for the upcoming Scottish elections.
The local authority’s returning officer Fiona Lees said in a statement at the weekend that “a very small number” of the region’s voters have received vote packs which do not include the text “my date of birth is” next to boxes prompting voters to fill in a date.
It has been suggested by some on social media that recipients risk submitting a spoiled ballot if they fill in the current date rather than their date of birth.
However, in her statement Ms Lees affirmed she has taken “prompt action to rectify this matter and retrieve these packs”, adding that replacements packs will be issued.
She said: “I have consulted with the Elections Management Board and the Electoral Commission for Scotland and they are satisfied with the action I am taking.”
And she urged anyone with concerns regarding the matter to contact the council by calling 03033333000 or emailing [email protected].
