Referendums Act 1997

Subject to subsection (2), if an elector satisfies an issuing officer that the elector can not vote without help, the elector may be accompanied in the pre-poll voting office by another person chosen by the elector.

The other person may help the elector in any of the following ways—

acting as an interpreter;

explaining the ballot paper and the requirements of section 33 relating to its marking;

marking, or helping the elector to mark, the ballot paper in the way the elector wishes;

folding the ballot paper and putting it in the ballot box.

If an elector can not enter a pre-poll voting office because of illness, disability or advanced pregnancy, but can come to a place (the voting place) close to the pre-poll voting office, then, subject to subsection (4)—

the issuing officer may perform the issuing officer’s functions; and

the voter may vote;

at the voting place as if it were the pre-poll voting office.

The issuing officer must—

before taking any action under subsection (3), inform any scrutineers present of the proposed action; and

ensure that, after the ballot paper is marked, it is—

folded to conceal the vote; and

put into an envelope and sealed; and

open the envelope inside the pre-poll voting office in the presence of any scrutineers and put the folded ballot paper in a ballot box.