Bruce warns servicemen could miss elections

11.50.00am GMT Wed 3rd Mar 2010

Changes are required to voting rules to ensure local servicemen and women operating abroad are able to vote in the forthcoming General Election, according to local MP Malcolm Bruce.

Current regulations mean that there are only 11 days in which postal ballots can be printed, dispatched and returned to be included in constituency counts. This creates great concern that thousands of people serving in the armed forces overseas will miss out on their chance to register their vote.

Mr Bruce is backing a Liberal Democrat motion calling for the General Election timetable to be brought in line with that for local elections, where candidates are nominated 16 days before polling day. This change could ease logistical difficulties and ensure that servicemen and women do not lose out on their chance to vote.

Commenting, Mr Bruce said:

'Every day, men and women serving in our armed forces overseas are putting their lives at risk. They duly expect to exercise the democratic rights which they have been fighting to protect.'

'More and more has been asked of our service personnel in recent years and they have risen to the challenge. A commitment to changing election rules so that forces votes can be counted is the least Ministers can do in return.'