I move amendment No 7:
In page 27, before section 43, to insert the following new section:
43. — (1) Where a presidential elector is employed by a local returning officer for any purpose in connection with a presidential election and the circumstances of the elector's employment are, in the opinion of the local returning officer, such as to prevent him from voting at the polling station at which the elector would otherwise be entitled to vote, the elector may if so authorised in writing by the local returning officer in such form as may be directed by the Minister, vote at such other polling station in the constituency in which he is so employed as may be specified in the authorisation.
(2) Where, not less than 7 days before polling day at a presidential election, a presidential elector whose name is not on the postal voters list or the special voters list, satisfies the local returning officer that he is unable, by reason of physical illness or physical disability suffered by him, to vote at the polling station at which he would otherwise be entitled to vote and the local returning officer is of opinion that it would be more convenient for the elector because of his physical illness or physical disability to vote at another polling station in the same constituency, the elector may, if so authorised in writing by the local returning officer in such form as may be directed by the Minister, vote at such other polling station in the same constituency as may be specified in the authorisation.".
Section 43 of the Bill provides for the restatement of existing law relating to voting arrangements for persons employed by the local returning officer in connection with the election and for persons who have difficulty in gaining access to their normal poling station due to physical illness or disability. Under this section as it stands a local returning officer may authorise an elector for the constituency who is unable to vote at his or her normal polling station because of employment by the returning officer in connection with the election to vote at any other polling station in the same constituency.
The amendment provides for the removal of the restriction in Presidential election law which limits the facility to the constituency in which the elector is registered. At a Presidential election a single uniform ballot paper is used in each constituency throughout the State. Apart from administrative considerations, there is no compelling reason why a person registered in one constituency should not be authorised to vote in the constituency in which he or she is employed by the returning officer and this amendment provides accordingly.
