The review confirms a significant concentration of reported non-receipt of postal vote packs in the constituency. It records the concerns raised and the practical arrangements put in place to assist electors, including replacement packs, local identity-verification support and hand delivery.
However, the review has not been able to establish a definitive explanation for the reported non-receipt. Evidence points away from issues with the transfer of postal voter data, and the supplier confirmed the packs were printed and dispatched in full. Royal Mail's further review also did not identify an operational issue that would explain the circumstances reported, though it cannot confirm delivery to each affected address.
“"The review into the missing postal vote packs for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election has been thorough but it has unfortunately not been possible to definitively establish why the reports of non-receipt of postal voting packs were concentrated in parts of Peterhead South and Boddam. And while the review was primarily focused on the processes around preparing and issuing the postal vote packs, it has not found that the election result itself was affected."
Jim Savege, Aberdeenshire Council Chief Executive and election Returning Officer, stated that the review examined every stage of the process. He confirmed there were no problems with the postal voter data exchanged between the Grampian Electoral Registration Office, Aberdeenshire Council, and Idox, nor with the council's postal vote print and management supplier. He added that there is clear evidence the packs were printed and dispatched in full by the supplier. While Royal Mail did not identify any mail centre, delivery office or other operational issue, it cannot provide the same level of assurance for delivery as for other parts of the postal vote process.
The report includes an action plan covering earlier identification of localised issues, clearer escalation arrangements, replacement capacity, and voter communications. These findings will inform the council’s preparations for the 2027 local government elections, and wider issues about postal delivery assurance will be raised with national electoral colleagues.
The full review document is available on the Aberdeenshire Council website.
