Mix-up causes voters to be turned away

VOTERS were turned away from casting their vote in the EU referendum because of a mix-up at a polling station.

Several people in Leighton Buzzard turned up with their polling cards but were told their names were not on the electoral list.

Central Bedfordshire Council is said to have moved quickly to rectify the error, but at least one voter is feared to have been effectively disenfranchised because he had to travel up to Manchester and could not make it back before polls close at 10pm.

Andrew Selous, Tory MP for South West Bedfordshire, said: “I raised the issue at around 7.50am with the electoral registration officer.

“One person went to two different polling stations then had to rush and catch his train and he is not going to be back before 10pm tonight. So there are one or two people who have lost the chance to vote, so that is really, really unfortunate. But it did get sorted pretty soon after my call I think. But I was getting a lot of flack because there were some people who had tried to vote and had not been able to.”

Mr Selous said the council did do all they could to rectify the problem.

Central Bedfordshire Council said two people were turned away in error from the station in Linslade.

“Two people turned up early doors and weren’t on the list,” a spokesman said. “We have now made arrangements for them to vote.”