Tory members will be able to CHANGE their vote midway through the leadership contest this summer, it has emerged.
Members with all their details recorded by the party will get two ballots - a physical ballot paper through the post, and a pair of unique security codes that allows them to vote online.
Crucially, members will be able to send both ballots into the party between the papers landing on doorsteps from August 1 and the election closing at 5pm on September 2.
If members send both ballots, the most recent one received by the party will count.
This means members will be able to vote for one candidate at the start of August - but if the other really takes their fancy, they can change their mind, send the other ballot and cancel out their first vote.
It’s understood it’s the first time the rule has been introduced in this form - partly due to the threat of postal strikes this summer to give reassurance votes will be received.
Members have, however, been able to change their votes before. Last time in 2019, they could change their vote by requesting a new ballot paper and sending it in, overriding their first vote.
Tory leadership rules confirm: “Qualifying members will be sent a ballot pack by post to their registered membership address.
“The ballot pack will contain a paper ballot that can be returned in the post.
“The pack will also contain details of how to vote online and two unique security codes that must be entered in order to do so. We recommend online voting where possible.”
Around 180,000 Tory members will vote to decide the next Prime Minister.
Rishi Sunak will take on Liz Truss in the final run-off after Tory MPs eliminated Penny Mordaunt from the second part of the contest.
Mr Sunak won the backing of 137 MPs, Ms Truss secured 113 and Ms Mordaunt came third with 105 votes.
