A PRINTING error caused confusion for electors after Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) sent out letters apparently giving its address as Blacon.
Postal voters contacted the Chronicle after being asked to return their ballot papers for today’s elections in a pre-printed envelope marked ‘Blacon, The Forum, Chester’ even though the council office is in the city centre.
Council staff say ward names were deliberately included to help Royal Mail staff sort the ballot papers in relation to the borough council elections.
By default, the ‘Blacon’ ward name was printed on envelopes in connection with the alternative vote referendum and parish council elections taking place at the same time.
Council spokesman Ian Callister said: “The envelopes for the AV and parish council elections were printed externally on an automatic system and did wrongly contain the word ‘Blacon’ in the address.
“However, the address did include The Forum and the correct postal code.
“We have not received any complaints from voters about this printing error. Nor has it affected Royal Mail operations. Indeed, over 50% of the AV papers had already been returned by Tuesday morning.”
The Chronicle has also been told of delays of up to a week in the dispatch of postal votes to electors due to an error at the printers.
But council spokesman Mr Callister said the postal vote return rate yesterday was already on target at 68%.
He added: “There was a small delay at the printers but we have got them out and we have got them back.”
CWAC held a review into election procedures in the Chester constituency after last year’s general election because 157 postal votes weren’t processed in time and some polling stations were supplied with an out-of-date electoral register.
