DUBAI // Thousands of votes in Thursday’s UK general election from Britons based in the UAE could go uncounted due to delays in sending out ballot papers and postal hold ups.
The election is set to be the tightest finish in decades, with the rise of once-marginal political parties such as the UK Independence Party and the Scottish National Party meaning no party is likely to have the overall majority needed to govern.
In 2012, an estimated 240,000 Britons were living in the UAE, although it is unclear how many were registered to take part in the election.
Ballot papers can only be sent out after April 22, once candidate nominations have officially closed on April 9, but that leaves just over two weeks to process applications, send out the papers and have them returned.
Some voters in the UAE have not received their postal ballot, despite having registered to vote and requested one. Those who did receive the papers were unsure if their vote would be delivered back to the UK in time.
Abu Dhabi resident Amanda Dale was hoping to vote in the Congleton constituency, in Cheshire East, that had a Conservative majority in 2010.
“There are a lot of British expats in the UAE but most of us will probably not get the chance to vote,” she said.
“Like many, I registered for a postal vote and this was sent out on April 21, according to my local council. By Wednesday (May 6), it had still not arrived.”
The system puts voters at the mercy of foreign postal services around the world.
“I feel the UK government should find a better way,” said Miss Dale.
“As yet we have no online option. It is frustrating they cannot send out our ballot papers earlier, so we then have the chance to post them back in time. It just seems like a complete waste of time and effort.”
Scottish voter A M, in Abu Dhabi, also had problems registering someone to nominate on his behalf.
“I applied for a proxy vote shortly before the deadline and asked to register by email,” he said. “I expected that this would have involved couriering forms with signatures back to the UK.
“As I understand it, my details were forwarded to Glasgow City Council but I have not had a word back.”
One Briton in Dubai registered as an overseas voter last month.
“Initially I thought I would be able to vote online,” he said. “I gave up when I realised I would have to vote by post and that the ballot papers would not be sent out until a few days before. In my experience, mail from the UK takes several weeks to get to Dubai so it was pointless.”
For a clear majority, political parties need to win 326 of the 650 seats in the House of Parliament to form a government. Without a majority, a coalition or minority government would need to be formed.
For the last five years, the UK has been governed by a coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, after no clear majority in 2010.
This year, Britons living abroad could register online for the first time under a new system to help boost the numbers sending in a vote via post or by proxy.
More than 100,000 had taken up the option, three times as many overseas voters as in 2010. Official registration figures will not be available until after the election.
Rosemary Davenport, from the UK Electoral Commission, said expats who had not received ballot papers in time should report any issues.
“We’ve had a number of overseas voters contact us to say they have not received their ballot papers,” she said.
“Our guidance to electoral administrators in local authorities is clear that postal votes sent to overseas electors should be prioritised to allow the maximum time for them to be returned.
“We are aware some overseas voters have raised concerns they are yet to receive their postal ballot packs and we will look carefully at the evidence shared with us on this.
“We will consider what issues to raise in our statutory election report, which will be laid in the UK parliament in the summer.”
To register a complaint, email info@electoralcommission.org.uk.
nwebster@thenational.ae
