The shame of Royal Mail’s postal vote delay

Britain’s creaking infrastructure and frequent paralysis of public services deserved to be a bigger factor in the election campaign than it has been. But could it now actually affect the result by disenfranchising some voters?

A growing number of voters have complained about failing to receive their ballot papers in the post. Given that many people requested postal votes because they knew they were going to be away from home this week, it will now be too late for them to vote, even if delays are sorted out at the last moment.

It is not just ballot papers, either, which have been delayed. Until last Monday I had not received a single election communication through the post – the mailshots candidates are allowed to send at public expense. Then, suddenly, came a rush of them all at once.