DOZENS of EU citizens living in south Essex were incorrectly sent polling cards for this month's referendum.

The Electoral Commission has blamed a "software" error for the cards being mistakenly sent to non-eligible voters.

In total, ten people in Southend, 14 in Thurrock, four in Basildon, one in Rochford and one in Brentwood received cards when they cannot vote on Thursday, June 23.

An Electoral Commission spokesman said: “We are aware that a small number of non-eligible EU citizens had mistakenly received poll cards and, in some instances, postal votes for the EU referendum.

"The software provider has resolved the issue which means that, if any postal votes have been issued to these electors, they will be cancelled and none of these electors will be shown as eligible on the electoral registers to be used at polling stations on June 23.

"All of the affected electors will also be written to by their local electoral registration officer with an explanation of what happened and will be told that they will not be able to vote at the referendum."