§ 20. Mr. G. HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that it is possible for a Member to be returned, to this House against the wishes of an electorate through the issue of 276 unstamped voting papers, he proposes to prevent this happening in future by an alteration in the laws governing elections?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)The Ballot Act. 1872, requires that immediately before a ballot paper is delivered to an elector, it shall be marked on both sides with the official mark, either stamped or perforated, and the Act provides that any ballot paper which has not on its back the official mark shall be void and not counted. Provision was included in the Economy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1926, for the stamping or printing of the official mark on ballot papers before the commencement of the poll, but this proposal met with such opposition that it was dropped. In these circumstances, I should not feel justified in introducing legislation amending the existing law in this respect unless I were assured that such legislation would be in accordance with the general desire of the House.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs not the Minister aware that in the working of the present stamp machine, unless the greatest care is taken, the impression cannot be seen or felt; and does he think it just that a man employed at a palling table should be able to decide who is to represent over 32,000 electors, as he did in Spring-burn in 1931?
§ Mr. HERBERT G. WILLIAMSCan my right hon. Friend say whether the incident which is the basis of this question happened in a municipality which has now a Socialist majority?