General Right to Vote
Constitution:
(1986)
• See section 10

Exclusion Based on Mental Disability
Electoral Law:
• Section 80, subsection (1) states: "The following persons are disqualified for registration as electors…(c) a person who is detained in a hospital under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, being
o (i) A person who, having been found by a Court or Judge to be under disability within the meaning of Part VII of the Criminal Justice Act 1985, or having been acquitted on account of his or her insanity within the meaning of that Act, is detained as a special patient pursuant to an order or direction under section 115(1) or section 116 or section 117 of that Act and has been so detained for a period exceeding three years:
o (ii) A person who, having been found by a Court, on conviction of any offence, to be mentally disordered, is detained as a patient pursuant to an order under section 118 of the Criminal Justice Act 1985 and has been so detained for a period exceeding 3 years:
o (iii) A person who has been subject to, and has for a period exceeding 3 years been subject to, a compulsory treatment order made on an application under section 45(3) of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992:
o (iv) A person detained under section 46 of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, being a person to whom paragraph (d) of this subsection would otherwise apply…" (i.e. a person in prison)

Voter Assistance by Other Citizens
Electoral Law:
• Section 170 states:
o "(1) Any elector who is wholly or partially blind or…is unable to read or write or has severe difficulty in reading or writing…may vote in accordance with the provisions of this section."
o "(2) At the request of any such voter, any person nominated by the voter, or, if no person is so nominated, the Deputy Returning Officer, shall accompany the voter into one of the inner compartments provided for the marking of ballot papers, and the ballot paper may there be marked by the voter with the assistance of the person nominated or, as the case may be, of the Deputy Returning Officer, or may be marked by the person nominated or, as the case may be, by the Deputy Returning Officer in accordance with the instructions of the voter."
o "(3) A voter to whom subsection (2) of this section applies, whether or not he or she nominates a person for the purposes of that subsection, may nominate a person or another person, as the case may require, to inspect the ballot paper before it is deposited in the ballot box."
o "(4) Any elector voting as a special voter may vote in the manner prescribed by this section, with any necessary modifications, or in any manner prescribed by regulations made under this Act."
o "(5) Any person commits an offence, and shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, who, being a person who is present in accordance with this section or with any regulations when an elector votes, communicates at any time to any person any information obtained as to the constituency candidate or party for whom the voter is about to vote or has voted, or as to the number on the ballot paper given to the voter."

Off-Site Voting Alternatives
Poll Worker Manuals:
Returning Officer's Manual (1996)
• Out of four types of votes, two of them are Ordinary Hospital votes and Special Votes. (1996 Sec. 3.2.1)
• Special voting must be made available at every hospital, maternity home, or institution for the reception and relief of people requiring treatment or care for any illness, disease, disability, or for the convalescent, infirm, etc.
• Special voting must also be made available to voters who by reason of hardship or serious inconvenience may vote prior to polling day. (1996 Sec. 3.6.3)
• Special voter declaration forms must be signed by the special voters and hospital voters themselves. (1996 Sec. 3.5.6)
Handbook: A guide for polling day staff (1996)
• Details of issuance of Special Voter Declaration form and process (1996a 24-32)

Promotes Access
Poll Worker Manuals:
Returning Officer's Manual (1996)
• "At least twelve polling places in each electorate must have access that is suitable for persons who are physically disabled. Returning Officers should select as many polling places with access for the disabled as possible." (1996, Sec. 2.2.15)