ALL-POSTAL ballots should never again be forced on voters in York and North Yorkshire, an election watchdog said today.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford appeared to effectively rule out all-postal ballots in future, saying he was "relaxed" about allowing people to vote both by post and using other methods.

The Electoral Commission said all-postal voting in June's European elections in June was "marred by problems". Despite improved turnouts it concluded that in the face of public criticism and security fears the system should be scrapped.

York's postal vote experience was largely trouble-free - although many people were baffled by the voting form.

A computer glitch meant forms were delayed getting to Elvington, so City of York Council set up emergency collection facilities in the village, and there were complaints about non delivery of pre-election leaflets by the Royal Mail.

York voters who experienced problems in the Euro elections today welcomed the possibility of returning to polling booths.

Wheldrake resident John Smith and his wife both received two ballot packs. He said: "People should have a choice. If I had a choice I'd got to the polling booth."

James Melsom, landlord of the Nags Head, Heworth, got a voting pack for his pub and house. "These mistakes should not happen and I don't think things were thought through properly," he said.

The report to Government calls for a freeze on further voting trials until March 2005. Then, it states, a full review into security and choice will be completed and a new model, retaining best features of postal and polling booth voting, will be prepared.

Postal problems ranged from deadlines imposed on councils, complicated voting forms, through to reports of fraud, which dented public confidence in the new system.

City of York Council deputy leader Andrew Waller welcomed choice for voters.

The review - Delivering Democracy? - evaluated June electoral pilots in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, North East and East Midlands involving 14 million people.

Updated: 10:39 Friday, August 27, 2004