Test Valley council accused of sending 'threatening' letters

The letters, received by residents including those requiring 24-hour care, demanded a response regardless of voter eligibility and threatened fines for non-compliance.

Judith Jones, an 82-year-old resident of an assisted-living flat in Bishops Way in Andover, is one resident who was distressed at seeing the letter.

Ms Jones, who has battled Parkinson's disease for two decades, made a panicked call to her son and daughter-in-law fearing a council fine.

READ MORE: Latest Test Valley Borough Council planning applications

The letter received by Judith Jones (Image: Newsquest)

"The letter said they should contact the council or face a fine," Darryl MacDonald-Jones, Ms Jones' son, said.

"There was no option that says 'I don't want to register to vote'. For people like my mum, who is living in an assisted living flat, this was quite stressful."

Ms Jones' health struggles include Parkinson's, arthritis, mobility issues, and sight and hearing difficulties. She requires a 24-hour carer to assist her in her flat.

While she updated her address for council tax and benefits upon moving in January 2021, her health caused her to overlook updating the electoral register.

However, she was shocked when she received the "threatening letter" from the council.

"I did registration for her online," Mr MacDonald-Jones said, "but yet she calmed down only when she received a polling card."

Judith Jones (Image: Newsquest)

"For the elections, we could help her postal votes, or we could take her to a booth," he said.

"But that's not the problem here. She is too ill to understand the voting process and it would mean we are making the choice for her.

“This is poor from the council. If I understand the process, we as a democracy get full choice on voting – including the right to register or not. 

“And what if she didn’t have me to help her in registering for her? The council doesn’t know my mum’s condition. So how can they send such a threatening letter?”

Judith Jones (Image: Newsquest)

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Mr Macdonald-Jones said his mum was not the only one in her block of flats who got worried about the letter.

There was another resident who was genuinely scared of facing a fine from the council, he added.

A Test Valley Borough Council spokesperson said: “When we become aware of someone who may be entitled to vote, we are required to send them an invitation to register and must, by law, use the invitation designed by the Electoral Commission. Electoral Registration Officers may impose a civil penalty on individuals who were issued a requirement to register but who failed to make an application, which is why that is included in the letter.

"This has been in place across the country since 2013. If any resident is concerned or have any queries about any correspondence sent out by the council they should contact us directly so we can answer them.”