So far 2.5 percent letter votes invalid | Elections

According to a poll by the ministry, about 800,000 people over 70 want to vote by mail. That would mean that there might be 20,000 votes lost in the coming elections, with a percentage of 2.5 percent invalid votes. Only people over 70 are allowed to vote by post.

It concerns postal votes that are in the wrong envelope. You will receive two: an envelope for the ballot paper, which reads ‘This envelope is only for the postal ballot paper’, and a return envelope. The return envelope contains the address and business reply number. The sealed envelope containing the ballot paper goes together with the signed voting pass in the return envelope. By putting the ballot paper in a separate, sealed envelope and keeping it away from the voting pass, it remains a secret what the voter voted.

But according to the law, envelopes without an address may not be opened at the postal polling station. Therefore they are invalid. People who have made a mistake can still fix it. Anyone wishing to vote by mail can report to the municipality until Friday afternoon at 17.00 for a new voting pass and envelopes.

If someone accidentally put the ballot paper and the voting pass together in the recipient’s return envelope, this vote is still valid. Then the ballot paper remains folded and is put in the ballot box.

A spokesperson for the ministry emphasizes that people should read the instruction carefully.

Due to corona, the elections are spread over three days this year. The first polling stations will open on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 March. These are intended for the elderly and people with poor health, but others are not excluded.

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