I have voted in every general and local election since 1959, but I won’t be voting on 2 May. Not because I have lost faith in politics, but because my postal vote never arrived. When I phoned the electoral service office of my local authority on 26 April, I was told it would arrive within the next two days. It didn’t, so I phoned the office again on 29 April and was told I would have to go to the civic centre, which is several miles away, to be able to vote.
I pointed out that I had applied for a postal vote as I have very limited mobility and had no way of getting to the civic centre, as I no longer drive and I have no one who could go on my behalf. I asked if my vote could be brought to me. Answer: no. Why not? Security. I asked if, in the event that I could get to my local polling station, I would be able to vote. Again no, because I had requested a postal vote.
So I am being deprived of my democratic right to vote because there is no plan B in the event of a lost or not sent postal vote. This cannot be right.
Mike Cantor
London
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