Around 15,000 more people applied for a postal vote in Sheffield for local elections

Kate Josephs chief executive of Sheffield Council and returning officer, confirmed the figure yesterday and said it brings Sheffield’s total to around 95,000 registered postal voters.

This local election is the first since the outbreak of Covid-19 as elections were cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

It is thought the increase in postal voters is largely due to concerns and restrictions around Covid-19.

Lots of work was put in to ensure the elections are as safe as possible.

Last week, there was some concern about postal votes as a batch of about 15,000 were delayed by problems with printers.

Ms Josephs said it “obviously falls far below our expectations” and that they were in urgent talks with the printers to ensure no efforts were spared in getting them delivered on time.

She also said they worked with Royal Mail to get them through the system as quickly as possible and said it was understood they arrived early this week.

Other voters went to the polls yesterday to decide on city councillors, the structure by which the council is run and the police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire.

Some Ecclesfield voters also chose parish councillors and those living in Broomhill, Broomfield, Summerfield, Endcliffe or Tapton also voted in a referendum on whether to adopt a neighbourhood plan.

Results for the councillor elections will be counted and announced today.

Results for the referendums and police and crime commissioner will be counted and announced on Monday, May 10.