(1) Subject to subregulations (2) and (3), the following provisions apply to the taking of absent votes ¾

(a) an absent vote is not to be cast by an elector at any polling place that is appointed under section 100 of the Act for the district for which the elector is enrolled;

(b) before a person is issued with a ballot paper for the purposes of casting an absent vote ¾

(i) the person in the presence of an authorised person is to sign a declaration in the form of Form 30 in Schedule 3 declaring that the person is enrolled on the electoral roll for the district claimed and entitled to vote for that district; and

(ii) the authorised person is to attest the signature of that person to the declaration;

(c) the declaration referred to in paragraph (b) is to be attached to the envelope to be used for the purpose of forwarding the ballot paper to the Electoral Commissioner;

(d) the ballot paper issued to an elector for the purposes of absent voting is to contain the particulars relevant to a ballot paper in relation to the district or region in relation to which the vote is proposed to be cast in accordance with the Act, and if necessary these particulars are to be endorsed on the ballot paper by the appropriate officer;

(e) the elector is to indicate his or her vote on the ballot paper in the manner prescribed by section 128 of the Act, fold the ballot paper, put it in the envelope attached to the declaration made by the elector under paragraph (b), and deposit the fastened envelope in a sealed ballot box in use at the polling place at which the vote was cast.

(2) If an elector wishes to vote as an absent voter at a polling place at which there is a copy of the roll for the district for which the elector is enrolled, an issuing officer may dispense with the requirements of subregulation (1)(b) to (e).

(3) If the issuing officer issues a ballot paper to the elector after dispensing with the requirements of subregulation (1)(b) to (e) ¾

(a) the issuing officer is to make a record in respect of the elector's name on a copy of the roll referred to in subregulation (2);

(b) the issuing officer is to give the elector an envelope bearing the name of the region or district in respect of which the ballot paper is issued; and

(c) the elector is to indicate his or her vote on the ballot paper in the manner prescribed by section 128 of the Act, fold the ballot paper, put it in the envelope and deposit the fastened envelope in a sealed ballot box in use at the polling place at which the vote was cast.

(4) The record referred to in subregulation (3)(a) may be made by electronic means if that is appropriate in the circumstances.

[Regulation 14 amended in Gazette 10 November 2000 pp.6165-6.]