By Paul O’Hare, BBC Scotland News
GettyA Scottish council is allowing residents who have not been issued with their postal votes to cast their ballot in person at an emergency polling booth over the next three days.
City of Edinburgh Council also said residents who have yet to receive their postal votes, and will not be at home on 4 July, can have their voting pack re-issued.
Both options will be available at the City Chambers from Friday until Sunday.
The rare move follows calls for a review of the postal voting system across Scotland after voters reported not receiving their ballots just one week before polling day.
The Electoral Management Board for Scotland (EMB) said there had been “many difficulties experienced with the delivery of postal votes” across the country.
Voters in the capital can collect their new pack at the City Chambers and, if required, can vote there up to 17:00.
The facility will also be open from 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Voters are asked to bring photo ID to the building on High Street.
The council said it was prioritising those who will not be at home next week and urged anyone who is not leaving the country to wait for delivery of their postal vote.
But it added that anyone who has not had their pack by early next week should contact the council.
The surprise decision by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to call a July election has posed additional challenges in Scotland as schools broke up this month for the summer holidays.
As a result many families will be out of the country on polling day.
Paul Lawrence, returning officer for Edinburgh, said: “I appreciate the concerns of voters on this issue and my absolute priority is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote in this general election.
“That’s why we’ve taken the decision to put in extra resources and open the City Chambers this weekend.
“Please only attend if you haven’t received your postal vote and you’re going on holiday or won’t be at home next week.”
Mr Lawrence also encouraged anyone who has already received their postal vote to return it as soon as possible, through Royal Mail.
He added: “The timing of this election has been challenging as have other circumstances beyond our control, but our teams are working hard to ensure it passes off as smoothly and successfully as possible.”
PAEarlier, First Minister John Swinney described the situation as “deeply unacceptable” and said he was not surprised the timing of election was causing problems.
A number of Scottish councils have also reported delays in ballots being received by voters, including Fife and West Lothian.
Perth and Kinross Council said on social media it felt “a comprehensive review of capacity and systems is necessary after the election”.
Royal Mail said it had investigated concerns over the delivery of postal votes in some areas but had found no backlogs in any of its offices in Scotland.
Many councils have been sending out postal ballots in tranches, with people who applied after 7 June having to wait longer before the ballot packs are despatched.