By Jonathan Isaby
A couple of days ago I heard from several members of the National Conservative Convention that their ballot papers for the elections now underway - details of the candidates are here - had arrived at their homes but been addressed to another member of the NCC, suggesting that a spreadsheet of addresses had mismatched the names and the addresses.
It would seem that this error affected large swathes of ballot papers, since the following email has now been sent to all members of the NCC from Returning Officer, Stephen Phillips:
BALLOT FOR VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION
The company we contracted to distribute the ballot papers and accompanying papers have mis-matched a number of names and addresses. This has resulted in a significant number of members of the National Convention receiving ballot papers incorrectly addressed to fellow members of the National Convention.
If you have received an A4 white envelope at your address bearing the name of a fellow National Convention member, it is important that you understand that this envelope contains the cvs of candidates for Vice President, which will not be re-issued.
It is important that we maintain the integrity of this ballot. In view of the large number of inaccuracies, I am declaring the ballot null and void.
The ballot will be re-run using different coloured ballot papers and a fresh Declaration of Identity. Please destroy the light blue ballot paper you have received and the light pink Declaration of Identity. If you have already posted these to me, these will be set aside and you will need to recast your ballot. Candidates' cvs will not be re-issued. An explanatory note will accompany the re-issued ballot.
The mailing house has apologised for the error and is seeking to make amends as quickly as possible.
