Ukip 'outrage' at folded ballot papers

Thursday, 4 June 2009 12:00 AM

By Alex Stevenson

UK Independence party (Ukip) leader Nigel Farage is considering issuing a legal challenge to today's European elections over folded ballot papers.

In a letter to elections minister Michael Wills, whose resignation he has demanded over the incident, Mr Farage said Ukip had been "swamped" by telephone calls where Ukip voters had been unable to locate their party.

The problem is that a combination of hot paper, hot ink and machine-folding has led to some ballot papers becoming irretrievably folded.

A Ukip spokesman said the party had received 350 calls at its London call centre alone by lunchtime over the issue.

Mr Farage claimed many had voted for other parties "such as NO2EU and even the BNP" in the affected areas.

"The most serious cases are where ballot papers were machine-folded and with a sharp crease. A good pair of fingernails were needed to prise open the last page," he wrote.

On some ballot papers Ukip alone has been affected, it claimed. Others saw up to four other parties disadvantaged.

The party expects it will be able to calculate how many votes it has lost, by comparing its overall national result with the areas affected.

"We are now getting information from across the UK with a view to issuing a legal challenge to demand a rerun of the election," Mr Farage added.

The Electoral Commission has said it has ordered returning officers to ensure ballot papers are unfolded when they are handed to voters.

Polling stations will close at 22:00 BST.

Tags: