Electoral Act, 1963

Advance polling on islands.

45.—(1) This section applies where—

(a) a poll is to be taken at a presidential election, and

(b) a local returning officer is of opinion that, in the case of a polling station situate on an island, it is probable that, owing to stress of weather or transport difficulties, either—

(i) the poll could not be taken on the polling day appointed by the Minister, or

(ii) if the poll were taken on that day, the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the opening of the ballot boxes at or before the hour of 9 a.m. on the day next after the polling day.

(2) Where this section applies, the local returning officer shall give public notice in the polling district stating that he will take the poll at the polling station on the island on a specified day, being a day earlier than the polling day appointed by the Minister and later than the sixth day before the said polling day, and the following provisions shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Principal Act, have effect:

(a) the local returning officer may take the poll at the polling station on the island on the day specified in the notice or, where he is of opinion that, owing to stress of weather, the poll cannot be taken on that day, on the first day after that day on which in his opinion transport between the island and the mainland is reasonably safe,

(b) where owing to transport difficulties the poll cannot begin at the hour fixed by the Minister for the commencement of the poll, it shall begin as soon as possible after that hour,

(c) where, after the polling has continued for not less than four hours, the presiding officer is of opinion that, if the poll were further continued, the ballot boxes could not reach the place for the opening of the ballot boxes at or before the hour of 9 a.m. on the day next after the polling day appointed by the Minister, he may then close the poll.

(3) No alteration shall be made in the form or contents of the notice of poll under Rule 3 of the First Schedule to the Principal Act by reason of an alteration made under this section of the day and hours of a poll.