HC Deb 14 October 1941 vol 374 cc1256-7W
Sir H. Morris-Jones

asked the Home Secretary what facilities are at present available to the personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Mercantile Marine to exercise their right to vote at Parliamentary elections; and whether he can give an approximate indication of the percentage of soldiers, sailors and airmen who have voted at by-elections since the war started?

Mr. Peake

All male members of the Forces and the Mercantile Marine who are on the register are entitled to vote as absent voters either by being classified as such when the register is compiled or by subsequent application. They may vote by post or, if they state that they expect to be out of the country they may nominate a proxy. In the case of voting by post, officers must notify registration officers of the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent. The addresses of other members of the Forces, enrolled when the register was compiled, are supplied through the respective record offices. Those who have joined subsequently are required to give their ad dresses on claiming to vote as absent voters. Members of the Mercantile Marine must also supply their addresses. Women members of the Forces may vote as absent voters if serving abroad or afloat. I regret that the information asked for in the second half of the Question is not obtainable.