Problems with postal vote software could delay next month's local election results, according to local government chiefs. Huntingdonshire DC chief executive and chair of the SOLACE electoral matters panel, David Monks, said many councils were experiencing problems because the software to read postal votes had been installed late and remained untested. ‘I think areas which will have concerns are those that have had their software systems put in late,' said Mr Monks. ‘Ours was put in last week. A huge number of postal votes could also be a problem.' He added that in Huntingdonshire, the number of postal votes had risen by more than 400%, and there could also be problems when checking addresses on the votes against the council's own records. ‘We are where we are, so we will have to get on with it,' he added. ‘We will get a result out. It might take a bit longer though.' ‘The regulations only went through parliament at the end of last year, and I have to say, some software companies have worked harder than others in producing the appropriate software. A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: ‘We are in close contact with suppliers, administrators and the Electoral Commission to ensure that appropriate systems will be in place for the May local elections. ‘Any difficulties with software systems will not prevent postal voters from casting their vote at the May elections, and from those votes being counted.'
