§ 37. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what cases a prisoner is allowed to make application to be regarded as a postal voter; and whether he will ask Parliament to alter the law which allows him to vote when the prison is in a different borough, urban district or rural parish from his home, but not when it is in the same borough, urban district or rural parish.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeAll persons detained in prison or in a Borstal institution who are entitled to vote are allowed to apply to be treated as absent voters. It is for the registration officer to decide whether the application should be allowed. The question of prisoners voting will be reviewed when an opportunity for amending legislation occurs.
§ Mr. KeelingUnless the prison authorities are going to send to the polling station accompanied by a warder a man who is eligible to vote and goes to prison in his own borough, does not the Home Secretary agree that it is quite ridiculous that one person should be enfranchised and another disenfranchised just according to where they live?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI will see that that point is considered.
§ Mr. William HamiltonCould we be informed whether these people were influenced electorally by the Tory Party slogan. "Set the people free"?