§ 12. Mr. Ungoed-Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to registration officers as to the degree of blindness and incapacity required to entitle a person to a postal vote in local elections.
§ Mr. EdeNone, Sir; but the prescribed form of application requires a person applying to vote by post on this ground to state that he is likely to be unable to go to the polling station, or to vote unaided, by reason of blindness or other physical incapacity, and a doctor must certify that the statement is correct.
§ Mr. Ungoed-ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the recent county council elections in Glamorgan, 52 out of 57 postal voters came from Barry, and that there is considerable concern in Barry that certificates may be issued by doctors who are candidates, or their partners, and will he pay particular attention to the issue of certificates in such cases?
§ Mr. EdeThis is a matter for the returning officer. It must be expected, I think, that there will be some variation in the numbers because, I regret to say, these facilities are not yet as widely known as I would like them to be.