HL Deb 30 May 1933 vol 87 cc1107-9

Minor and Consequential Amendments of the Ballot Act, 1872.

2. The Second Schedule to the Ballot Act, 1872, shall have effect as if the following form were inserted therein:—

"Form of declaration to be made by a person assisting a blind voter to vote.

"I, of, hereby declare that I have attained the age of twenty-one years, and that I have not previously assisted any person [except of]* to vote at the election now taking place.

(Signature of the person making the declaration)

(date)

"I, the undersigned, being the presiding officer for the polling station for the [county]* [borough]* of, hereby certify that the above declaration, having been first read to the above-named was signed by him in my presence.

(Signature)

(date) (hour)

"N.B.—If the person making the above declaration knowingly and wilfully makes therein a statement false in a material particular, he will be guilty of an offence."

(*Strike out the words in square brackets, if inappropriate.)

LORD BLANESBURGH

This is a drafting Amendment, to deal with a pure mis-print.

Amendment moved— Page 3, line 25, leave out ("list") and insert ("lists").—(Lord Blanesburgh.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

LORD BLANESBURG

had given Notice of Amendments to make the forms of declaration and certificate read as follows:

"Form of declaration to be made by a person assisting a blind voter to vote.

I of having been requested to assist whose number on the register is to record his vote hereby declare that *I am entitled to vote at this election,or*that I am the † of the said voter and have attained the age of twenty-one years, and that I have not previously assisted any blind person [except of]‡ to vote at the election now taking place.

(Signature of the person making the declaration)

(date)

"I, the undersigned, being the presiding officer for the polling station for the [county] ‡ [borough] ‡ of, hereby certify that the above declaration, having been first read to the above-named declarant was signed by the declarant in my presence.

(Signature)

(date) (hour)

"N.B.—If the person making the above declaration knowingly and wilfully makes a statement false in a material particular, he will be guilty of an offence."

"* Strike out inappropriate words."

"† State the relationship of the companion to the voter."

"‡Strike out the words in square brackets, if inappropriate."

The noble and learned Lord said: The next Amendments are directed to the form of declaration. The companion, having been requested to assist the blind voter to record his vote, will then make the declaration according to the form of words prescribed.

Amendment moved— Page 3, line 36, leave out ("hereby declare that I") and insert ("having been requested to assist, whose number on the register is to record his vote hereby declare that *I am entitled to vote at this election, or *that I am the † of the said voter and")—(Lord Blanesburgh)

LORD HANWOTI.TH

This is a declaration which I understand is going to be used by the companion. If I understand the other part of the proposal, the companion may be a person of two classes He may be a companion or he may be the father, mother, brother, sister, or other relative of the blind voter. The declaration does not seem to fit the case where the person is not merely the companion but is the father or other relative. I would like to be sure that the declaration does fit all the cases provided for in the Bill.

LORD BLANESBURGH

I think it does. I think the words to be inserted in the space in tie last line will enable the relationship to be stated.

LORD HANWORTH

I hope that the noble and learned Lord will look into the matter, because as it stands the declaration is suitable for the companion but not for a person who may be the father or the mother, and who may riot have been near the blind voter for a long time. If so, he or she must not make a declaration that he or she is the companion.

LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAM

It must be a person in the polling booth at the time.

LORD BLANESBURGH

That is quite clear, but I will undertake to look into the matter.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

LORD BLNESBURGH

The other Amendments are purely drafting Amendments.

Amendments moved—

Page 4, line 1, after ("any") insert ("blind")

Page 4, line 10, at end insert ("declarant")

Page 4, line 11, leave out ("him") and insert ("the declarant")—(Lord Blanesturgh.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Title:

An Act to amend the Ballot Act, 1872, so as to enable any blind voter at a poll regulated by that Act to avail himself of the assistance of a friend, and for purposes connected with the matter aforesaid.

LORD BLANESBURGH

Et is thought necessary to extend the Title in order to justify the extension of the persons who may be a companion, and this Amendment is for that purpose.

Amendment moved— Line 4, after ("a") insert ("relative or"). (Lord Blanesburgh).

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Title, as amended, agreed to.