Hundreds of Tory members are sent more than one ballot paper for the Conservative leadership election between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt
- Hundreds of Tory party members have received more than one ballot paper
- However, in the Conservative party members should only vote once
- The party will elect a new leader and prime minister later this month
Hundreds of Conservative party members have been sent more than one ballot paper in the party leadership contest between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.
Those that registered their home and work address, or that have changed their name, are likely to receive more than one, according to a party source.
However, Conservative party rules state that they should vote on a ‘one person, one vote’ basis.
Voting has already begun in the contest with frontrunner Boris Johnson expected to take a landslide victory with up to 74 per cent of the vote.
Hundreds of Conservative party members have been issued with more than one ballot paper in the leadership election, according to a party source. However, they are expected to cast their votes on a ‘one member, one vote’ basis
A source said more than 1,000 people could have been sent several ballot papers, reports the BBC, out of a 160,000 party membership.
Former Cabinet minister Sir Patrick McLoughlin, who is chairing Mr Hunt’s campaign, said the issue has ‘got to be looked at’ but said he expected Tory members to follow the rules and vote just once.
Sir Patrick, a former Conservative chairman, told the BBC’s Today programme: ‘It’s made very clear on the ballot paper that you are only allowed to vote once. I expect Conservative members to follow that.
‘If people have joined two associations they may get two ballot papers. I get two ballot papers in elections because I am on two different sets of electoral registers, it doesn’t mean that I vote twice, I don’t.’
‘It can’t be clearer, it’s right there on the ballot paper saying that you must only vote on one occasion and I expect people to do that’.

Conservative party members are electing a new party leader and prime minister. They will have to choose between Boris Johnson (pictured in Scotland yesterday speaking to party members) or Jeremy Hunt

Conservative party rules make it clear that members are expected to only vote once in the leadership election. (pictured, Jeremy Hunt address party members in Scotland yesterday)
A Conservative party briefing paper issued for the leadership election states that members are expected to vote on a ‘one member, one vote basis’.
However, the vote is not overseen by the electoral commission.
The vote will close on July 22 and the result will be revealed a day later.
Theresa May will take her final session of Prime Minister’s Questions on July 24 and hand over to the contest winner that afternoon.
MailOnline has contacted the Conservative party for comment.