This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36446521
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
EU referendum: Thousands wrongly sent polling cards | EU referendum: Thousands wrongly sent polling cards |
(35 minutes later) | |
Polling cards were wrongly sent to at least 3,462 EU citizens who are not allowed to vote in the EU referendum, the Electoral Commission has announced. | Polling cards were wrongly sent to at least 3,462 EU citizens who are not allowed to vote in the EU referendum, the Electoral Commission has announced. |
A software "issue" meant polling cards and some postal votes were sent out to some "non eligible" voters. | A software "issue" meant polling cards and some postal votes were sent out to some "non eligible" voters. |
They are still awaiting responses from six councils so the number could rise. | They are still awaiting responses from six councils so the number could rise. |
Leave campaigners Iain Duncan Smith and Bernard Jenkin have expressed "serious concerns" about the "conduct of the EU referendum and its franchise". | Leave campaigners Iain Duncan Smith and Bernard Jenkin have expressed "serious concerns" about the "conduct of the EU referendum and its franchise". |
They have written to the prime minister complaining of "many and varied" examples of EU nationals being sent polling cards. | They have written to the prime minister complaining of "many and varied" examples of EU nationals being sent polling cards. |
On Friday, the Electoral Commission confirmed the numbers affected so far, and said the software provider had since "resolved the issue". | On Friday, the Electoral Commission confirmed the numbers affected so far, and said the software provider had since "resolved the issue". |
Any postal votes wrongly issued would be cancelled and none of those affected would appear as an eligible voter on the electoral registers used at polling stations, it said. | Any postal votes wrongly issued would be cancelled and none of those affected would appear as an eligible voter on the electoral registers used at polling stations, it said. |
EU citizens from non-UK countries are not entitled to vote, unless they are citizens of the Irish Republic, Cyprus or Malta. | EU citizens from non-UK countries are not entitled to vote, unless they are citizens of the Irish Republic, Cyprus or Malta. |
But Mr Duncan Smith has said a Nottingham City Council officer had emailed a Vote Leave supporter to say the council was unable to check whether people put their correct nationality on an application, and had to assume the information submitted was correct. | But Mr Duncan Smith has said a Nottingham City Council officer had emailed a Vote Leave supporter to say the council was unable to check whether people put their correct nationality on an application, and had to assume the information submitted was correct. |
Kingston-upon-Thames council in south-west London said a Polish citizen in the area - whose case had been highlighted by the Guido Fawkes website - was sent a polling card because he had put "British" as his nationality on the electoral register. | Kingston-upon-Thames council in south-west London said a Polish citizen in the area - whose case had been highlighted by the Guido Fawkes website - was sent a polling card because he had put "British" as his nationality on the electoral register. |
Registering to vote | |
British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK and many British citizens living abroad are entitled to vote in the referendum. | |
You can check with your local authority's electoral services team if you are worried that you are not on the register. | |
If you are not on the register you have until midnight on Tuesday, 7 June to submit an application for a vote. The deadlines for applying for a postal vote at the referendum are: | |
In England, Scotland or Wales, you can register to vote online anytime at gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you are a British citizen living abroad, you can register to vote online in the same way. | |
In Northern Ireland, visit the government's Register to vote in Northern Ireland page to download a registration form. If you are an Irish citizen living abroad who was born in Northern Ireland, visit the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland website to download the correct form. |