Human error has been blamed for the delay in sending out 2,600 postal votes in North West Essex constituency ahead of Thursday’s general election. The chief executive of Uttlesford District Council (UDC), who acts as the area’s returning officer in elections, has apologised, but said people still had time to receive their ballot papers. Peter Holt said he was “mortified” by the mistake, which mainly affects the Chelmsford wards, and that the authority was trying to resolve the matter by hand-delivering ballots. But he warned that a close result on election night could be challenged if a large …
