§ 77. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Health, in view of the memorandum issued by his Department on 7th December, 1950, which permits patients in mental hospitals to vote as absent voters, what steps will be taken to enable the presiding officer to determine whether such a patient is capable of voting without assistance.
§ Mr. MarquandThe absent voter arrangements provide for a witnessing signature on a form of declaration of identity. This signature will be given by a senior officer of the hospital, who will also ensure that the vote is recorded without any person seeing it. If the ballot paper and accompanying declaration of identity are in order, they will be accepted by the returning officer.