The Stornoway Trust election count has been pushed back by two days to allow voters more time to get their ballot slips in.
Events outwith the control of the community landlord have affected election process timings.
A legally required advertisement submitted by the trust was printed a week late by the publisher said the trust.
Then problems with the postal system resulted the late delivery of ballot slips to electors across the Stornoway Trust area.
Civica Election Services (formerly Electoral Reform Services), the UK's leading provider of election services which is managing the ballot, said voting papers were posted from their London office last week, on 21 March.
However, due to an unknown delay apparently within the postal network, the letters did not arrive at island addresses until this week.
In some cases, voters in the same households received their slips on different dates while near neighbours are said to have also got theirs days apart.
Completed voting slips need to be in the mail by Saturday to leave the island that same afternoon on the journey to London. Royal Mail are operating normal collections in Scotland tomorrow (Good Friday) and Saturday.
The Stornoway Trust has now added an extra two days on to the election timetable to provide leeway for any late deliveries.
In a statement today, Iain Maciver, factor of the Stornoway Trust, said: “As Returning Officer for the forthcoming Stornoway Trust Election of Trustees I want to allay fears emanating from amongst the electorate by offering an assurance that returned ballot papers will be accepted for counting by Civica Electoral Services up to the forenoon of Thursday 4th April.”
He explained the election timeline must be conducted as set out in the Deed of Trust by Lord Leverhulme who gifted the estate to the people.
From the receipt of nominations deadline -
“That then only leaves 14 days between preparation of the ballot papers and the date of the election.
“The Tuesday date was therefore chosen to allow ample time for papers to be mailed that same week.
“Having recognised that the closing date fell after the local press deadlines, candidates were given an opportunity to explain how they believed they could fulfil the office of trustee.”
Mr Maciver added: “Unfortunately, miscommunication out with the trust’s control, meant that the statutory election notice was a week late in appearing in the Stornoway Gazette and the process was moved forward by one week to 29th February.
“While the revised timeline results in the Easter weekend preceding the 2nd April election date, Royal Mail will be collecting and dispatching mail as normal on both Friday, 29th March and Saturday 30th March, thereby allowing delivery to London by the original due date.
“However, I am happy to restate in light of the late receipt of ballot papers being reported by some of the electorate, that following communication with the candidates, have agreed with Civica Electoral Services to delay the completion of the count until Thursday 4th April, thereby reducing the risk of late mail being excluded from the vote.”
He continued: “Conducting a trust election is a costly process which all those eligible to vote should take full advantage of the privilege bestowed on them.
“As well as steps being taken to deal with the current situation, the Trust will no doubt revisit how future elections can be better conducted.
“As that will require changes to the Deed of Trust, the Trust following consultation with the electorate, will have to petition the Court of Session, seeking approval on what these changes may be.
“I hope that the foregoing explanation will help explain how the situation has arisen and will help to dispel the unhelpful misinformation that has been circulating as a result.”
Stornoway Trust election deadline extended
28 March 2024