London borough apologises after voters without polling cards turned away

The London Borough of Barnet has apologised to residents who were turned away at polling stations this morning because their names were absent from polling lists.

Residents who had not brought their polling cards with them were unable to vote. Those with their cards were still able to vote.

According to a report on the BBC, staff at one polling station said that of the first 30 voters to attend, only three were on the register.

The council said on its website that it was aware of problems with its electoral registration lists at polling stations in the borough. It said updated registers had been sent to all the polling stations.

In an update posted at 10.40am Barnet said all the updated electoral registers were in place and people could vote as normal.

The local authority advised people who were unable to vote to return again before the polling stations closed "if at all possible".

“We apologise for the problems voters have experienced,” Barnet said.

In a further update issued at 12.45pm the council said that those who were unable to return to a polling station due to work reasons, might be able to use an emergency proxy vote.

This involved completing an application form and returning the form by 5pm. Details were provided here about how to vote by emergency proxy.

The elections in London are for a new mayor and for the London Assembly.