§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discretionary powers are available to those responsible for the local administration of(a) local government, (b) general and (c) European elections to (i) issue copies of appropriate ballot papers to 21W electors together with poll cards and (ii) arrange for the symbols of the main political parties to be displayed on ballot papers; and if he will make a statement. [29748]
§ Mr. SackvilleUnder current electoral legislation
- (i) there is nothing to prevent a returning officer from issuing a poll card together with a postal ballot paper for local, parliamentary or European parliamentary elections to an elector who is an absent voter and entitled to vote by post as proxy at the election; we understand, however, that because of different timing requirements this is not normal practice;
- (ii) there are no discretionary powers available to returning officers to add party political symbols to the ballot paper.