THE candidates affected by a postal voting blunder in the forthcoming elections have voiced their concern.

A massive slip-up in the New Forest left 2,000 residents with the wrong ballot papers, as reported in the Saturday's Daily Echo, pictured top right.

Everyone who applied for a postal vote in South Waterside were sent cards bearing the names of candidates standing for the county council elections in Totton North, and vice versa.

A printing error was blamed for the mistake by election chiefs based at New Forest District Council.

Alexis McEvoy, Tory candidate for South Waterside, told the Daily Echo: "From my point of view it is a bit of a disaster. You work hard and one mistake like this may cause problems. People may have voted, gone on holiday and missed their vote. That is worrying. In some shape or form I hope they can keep postal votes separate from the other ballot papers in case there is this problem.

"The district council has always done a first class job and I am quite sure it is to do with the huge pressure from the large increase in the number of postal votes."

The blunder came after the Daily Echo revealed how the postal voting system could be abused, with one expert estimating up to one sixth of postal votes in Southampton alone could be open to fraud.

Lee Dunsdon, Liberal Democrat candidate for South Waterside, said: "There are already serious concerns about potential fraud with postal voting and it is very worrying that incorrect ballot papers have been sent out to the wrong county divisions."

Pete Sopowski, Labour candidate for Totton North, said: "I am sure it wasn't done on purpose but it doesn't help democracy, especially with current controversy about postal votes."

Alan Weeks, Liberal Democrat candidate for Totton North, added: "As long as the mistake is corrected then I don't see it's a real problem. It's disappointing the mistake has happened but as long as everyone still gets a vote, mistakes do happen."

Frank Bright, standing for the Conservatives in Totton North, said: "This is one of the things that the government brought in and it seems, on our patch, to have gone pear-shaped. We have got enough time for it to be corrected but imagine the effect on some elderly people who will be totally confused."

The cards have been reprinted, at a cost of £600, and sent out by the county council stressing that incorrect cards would not be counted and no one would lose their vote.

THE RIGHT CANDIDATES:

South Waterside

Wards: Fawley, Blackfield and Langley, Furzedown and Hardley, Holbury and North Blackfield.

Candidates: Lee Dunsdon (Lib Dem), Alexis McEvoy (Con).

Totton North

Wards: Totton Central, Totton North, Totton West.

Candidates: Frank Bright (Con), Peter Sopowski (Lab), Alan Weeks (Lib Dem).