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| EU referendum: over 400,000 register to vote during extension period EU referendum: over 400,000 register to vote during extension period | |
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| More than 400,000 people applied to register to vote in the EU referendum during the 48-hour extension period after the registration site was overwhelmed with demand. | More than 400,000 people applied to register to vote in the EU referendum during the 48-hour extension period after the registration site was overwhelmed with demand. |
| Downing Street said the total number of registrations over the past week had been 1.5 million voters, though not all would be eligible or new voters, with many using the system to check they are definitely registered. | Downing Street said the total number of registrations over the past week had been 1.5 million voters, though not all would be eligible or new voters, with many using the system to check they are definitely registered. |
| The new deadline of midnight on Thursday night passed without the technical issues that plagued the final hours of the original one on Tuesday. Emergency legislation allowing registration to continue for 48 hours, rushed through both the Commons and the Lords without a vote. | The new deadline of midnight on Thursday night passed without the technical issues that plagued the final hours of the original one on Tuesday. Emergency legislation allowing registration to continue for 48 hours, rushed through both the Commons and the Lords without a vote. |
| Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin said on Tuesday the surge of applications was “three times as intense a spike [as the one] that occurred before the general election”. | Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin said on Tuesday the surge of applications was “three times as intense a spike [as the one] that occurred before the general election”. |
| On Wednesday, more than 135,600 people under 35 applied to register, according to the registration tracker on the official site. Overall, the site received 242,000 applications on Wednesday and a further 195,000 applications on Thursday. Five minutes before the deadline at midnight on Thursday, just under 5,000 people were still on the site attempting to register. | On Wednesday, more than 135,600 people under 35 applied to register, according to the registration tracker on the official site. Overall, the site received 242,000 applications on Wednesday and a further 195,000 applications on Thursday. Five minutes before the deadline at midnight on Thursday, just under 5,000 people were still on the site attempting to register. |
| Leave campaigners have said Downing Street’s willingness to allow an extension to the registration deadline is because younger voters are more likely to back the UK remaining in the EU and are also more likely to have registered at the last minute. The Leave.EU campaign chief, Arron Banks, highlighted an earlier problem with ineligible voters receiving postal votes and polling cards. He said: “Taken together, we believe that the above constitutes a clear attempt to rig the referendum or, at a bare minimum, to load the dice. We believe it is unconstitutional at best and have been advised that with legitimate cause we could challenge this extension.” | Leave campaigners have said Downing Street’s willingness to allow an extension to the registration deadline is because younger voters are more likely to back the UK remaining in the EU and are also more likely to have registered at the last minute. The Leave.EU campaign chief, Arron Banks, highlighted an earlier problem with ineligible voters receiving postal votes and polling cards. He said: “Taken together, we believe that the above constitutes a clear attempt to rig the referendum or, at a bare minimum, to load the dice. We believe it is unconstitutional at best and have been advised that with legitimate cause we could challenge this extension.” |
| Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Letwin was forced to admit an estimated 5,000 ballot papers had been sent out to people who were not entitled to vote, including EU citizens and a 17-year-old. Separately, Durham county council said it had mislaid hundreds of overseas postal votes, with 457 packs for expats lost after printing. The council said it had dispatched a new batch which would still give enough time for postal votes to be received and sent back before polls close on 23 June. | Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Letwin was forced to admit an estimated 5,000 ballot papers had been sent out to people who were not entitled to vote, including EU citizens and a 17-year-old. Separately, Durham county council said it had mislaid hundreds of overseas postal votes, with 457 packs for expats lost after printing. The council said it had dispatched a new batch which would still give enough time for postal votes to be received and sent back before polls close on 23 June. |
| Colette Longbottom, referendum counting officer at the council, said: “Following an internal investigation we concluded that the ballot packs had been printed and issued as planned by our external contractors, but had not been delivered to the recipients. To mitigate, on Tuesday 7 June we took the decision to invalidate the batch of overseas elector postal ballot packs that had been issued on 23 May and reissued fresh packs.” | Colette Longbottom, referendum counting officer at the council, said: “Following an internal investigation we concluded that the ballot packs had been printed and issued as planned by our external contractors, but had not been delivered to the recipients. To mitigate, on Tuesday 7 June we took the decision to invalidate the batch of overseas elector postal ballot packs that had been issued on 23 May and reissued fresh packs.” |