Patients' Entitlement to Vote in General Elections

Correction - In a previous published version of this article we referred to patients voting in the (what was then) forthcoming election with Section 17 leave. In fact the Representation of the People Act permits only postal or proxy voting by detained patients.

Originally published February 2005

With the forthcoming General Election, issues are likely to arise regarding the ability of patients to vote.

The following article summarises the Statutory Regulations.

The Representation of the People Act 2000 "(RPA 2000)" provides that a person is entitled to vote if they are registered in the register of electors. A person is entitled to be registered in the register of electors of a constituency if they are resident there. They must also not be subject to any legal...