HC Deb 03 November 1943 vol 393 cc808-9
Mr. Peake

I beg to move, in page 25, line 4, to leave out paragraph 1, and to, insert: 1. Sub-section (4), except so much thereof as provides that a ballot paper for the purpose of voting by post shall not be sent to any person unless the address of that person recorded by the registration officer is an address in the United Kingdom, shall not have effect, and in lieu thereof the following provisions shall have effect:—

  1. (a) so long as an application by any person for his name to be entered in the absent voters list is required to, be made as respects a particular election, a person whose name is entered on that list for an election—
    1. (i) shall, if he has satisfied the registration officer, on an application for the issue of a proxy paper made in accordance with electoral registration regulations at the same time as his application for his name to be entered in the said list, that there is a probability that at the time of the poll he will be at sea or out of the United Kingdom, be entitled to appoint a proxy to vote for him at the election; and
    2. (ii) having appointed a proxy, shall be entitled to vote by proxy at the election;
  2. (b) if and when electoral registration regulations provide that an application by any person for his name to be entered in the absent voters list is to be made as respects a prescribed period, a person for whom such an application has been received and accepted by the registration officer—
    1. (i) shall, if he has satisfied the registration officer, on an application for the issue of a proxy paper made in accordance with electoral registration regulations, that there is a probability that he will be at sea or out of the United Kingdom at the time of the poll at any Election initiated during that period or any part thereof specified in the application, be entitled to appoint a proxy to vote for him at any such election; and
    2. (ii) having appointed a proxy shall be entitled to vote by proxy at any such election as aforesaid for which his name may be entered in the civilian residence register or business premises register;
  3. (c) no ballot paper shall be sent for the purpose of voting by post to a person who has appointed a proxy by virtue of this paragrah while the appointment is in force;
  4. (d) the provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to the appointment and voting of proxies under this paragraph."
Although it looks rather formidable, this Amendment is practically nothing but redrafting. We had hoped by a comparatively simple bit of legislation by reference to meet the position, but have come to the conclusion that it is better to set out fairly fully the existing legislation regarding voting by proxy. I do not think there is anything in the Schedule as redrafted to which any exception is likely to be taken.

Amendment agreed to.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.