HC Deb 26 February 1920 vol 125 cc1907-8
65. Major MORRISON-BELL

asked the Minister of Health if he can give any statistics as to the number of absent voters dealt with in the recent bye-elections: and if he can state, approximately, what is the percentage of those voters who have exercised the franchise?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Dr. Addison)

I propose to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures asked for in the question, as far as they are available The figures show that in the recent bye-elections for which figures are available, viz., at Plymouth, South Croydon, St. Albans, Bromley, Ashton-under-Lyme, and Wrekin, the percentage of the ballot papers of absent voters returned varied from 51 per cent. in the case of Plymouth to 27 per cent. in the case of South Croydon.

The following figures are available in the case of certain recent bye-elections:—

Constituency. No. of ballot papers posted to absent voters. No. of papers returned in time for count. Percentage So returned
Plymouth (Sutton) 4076 2151 53
Croydon (South) 2643 712 27
Herts (St. Albans) 2108 880 41
Bromley 3242 1075 33
Ashton-under-Lyme 586 236 40
Salop (Wrekin) 1011 313 30

In most of the above elections a few of the papers actually returned in time for the count were rejected.

    c1908
  1. DECLARATION OF POLL. 123 words