Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill — Schedule 2 — Allowed to Vote if in Queue by 10pm — 18 Oct 2010 at 22:15
The majority of MPs voted not to allow registered voters who are in the polling station queue when the polls close at 10pm to vote.
The section of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill[1] to be amended (page 37 line 26) [2] reads:
- A ballot paper must be delivered to a voter who applies for one, subject to any provision of these rules to the contrary.
the amendment proposed adding
- 'including any validly registered voter who presents himself to the polling station before 10 pm but, because of a queue, is not immediately able to vote'.
Particularly given the confusing result of adding the extra phrase after "rules to the contrary", rather than after "applies for one", it was helpful of the MP proposing the amendment, Chris Bryant, to explain the intent of his amendment during the debate[3]:
- The amendment seeks to rectify the situation that we saw in the general election this year, when, as hon. Members will know, in several constituencies around the land people turned up to vote at 9.40 pm, 9.45 pm, 9.50 pm or 9.55 pm, but could not cast their ballots. Indeed, they were not provided with ballot papers because they could not get through the doors, as there were queues of people wanting to vote.
At Prime Minister's questions on the 10th of November 2010 Nick Clegg (standing in for the Prime Minister) explained why he did not vote for this proposed new clause. He said the solution was not legislation, but better resources for returning officers.
All Votes Cast - sorted by party
MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party are marked in red. Also shows which MPs were ministers at the time of this vote. You can also see every eligible MP including those who did not vote in this division.
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