Concern as electors opt for a postal vote

The number of people opting to vote by post in the forthcoming elections has risen in the Midlands, but there are claims it will not increase the overall number of voters.

There are also concerns about the logistical nightmare of counting postal votes, which can be handed in at polling stations and must be checked first, and there are also fears of an increase in the amount of red tape needed to combat fraud as councils are now required to check signatures and date of births on postal votes with those on their files.

In Dudley, of the 241,416 electors registered, 27,327 have requested a postal vote.

Deputy leader Councillor Les Jones said the number was rising each year because it was a more convenient way for electors to cast their vote.

But he said the system failed to address the problem of why so many people did not bother to vote at all.

"I don't think postal voting has improved the likelihood of a good turnout in the elections because people who ask for a postal vote are more likely to have gone to the polls anyway."

Councillor Jones added: "I think people have become detached from decisions made by politicians and there is a feeling of 'my vote doesn't count anyway'."

Wolverhampton City Council says the number of postal votes is increasing. It has an electorate of 170,786 and the number of postal votes is 19,462.

City cabinet member for organisation, people and performance, Councillor Joan Stevenson, said: "The administration of postal voting does cause problems and I am not convinced that they necessarily increase the actual voter turnout.

"I do believe that people ought to take the time to go to the polling station if they possibly can."

In Sandwell, about 10 per cent of the electorate of 224,808 has requested a postal vote.

Sue Phelps, head of governance servicessaid: "The law requires that all postal votes be counted first. In Sandwell we have 170 polling stations and if around five are handed in at each one, then that's 800 to count."

In Stafford, it is just over 11 per cent to date with 11,000 postal voters expected to rise to 17,000. And at Cannock Chase, the number who have applied for a postal vote is 9,400 – 400 more than in 2005.