SCHEDULE 1Absent voting at Assembly elections

Additional requirements for applications to vote by proxy in respect of a particular Assembly election

6.—(1) An application under article 9(1) to vote by proxy at a particular election shall set out why the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll for that election in respect of which it is made will be or are likely to be such that he cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at his allotted polling station.

(2) Where an application under article 9—

(a)is made on the grounds of the applicant’s disability; and

(b)is made after 5 pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the election for which it is made,

the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Schedule as to the matters to be specified and the attestation shall apply.

(3) Where an application mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) is made, the person who attests the application shall state, in addition to those matters specified in paragraph 3, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the date upon which the applicant became disabled.

(4) Where an application under article 9(1) is made by a person to whom article 7(7) applies after 5 pm on the sixth day before the date of the poll at the election for which it is made, the requirements of sub-paragraph (5) as to the matters to be specified and as to attestation shall apply.

(5) Where an application mentioned in paragraph (4) is made—

(a)the application shall additionally state the name and address of the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained;

(b)the application shall be attested by or on behalf of the managers responsible for the administration of the hospital within the meaning of section 145(1) of the Mental Health Act 1983 at which the applicant is liable to be detained, and the attestation shall state—

(i)the name of the person attesting the application;

(ii)his position in the hospital at which the applicant is liable to be detained;

(iii)that he is a person authorised to make the attestation; and

(iv)the statutory provision under which the applicant is liable to be detained in the hospital.

(6) This paragraph does not apply where the applicant has an anonymous entry.