Things Overheard While Voting...

[john-the-author]

In the UK, the only people disqualified from voting are those who are Members of the House of Lords, convicted criminals actually in prison at the time of the election, and people detained in mental hospitals by court order.

Ex-prisoners and those in mental hospitals voluntarily can vote if they have registered on the electoral roll.

A criminal record will not disqualify a UK citizen from voting even if they are on bail awaiting trial, or attending court during their trial, or held on remand in prison awaiting trial.

Og

Og, I am reminded that maaaaaaaaaaaany years ago, when Clement Freud was starting his first run for MP, he said that he'd only ever voted for one person. Some man was running for a local council position of some kind and he had been in a mental institution at some point earlier in his life and to get out, he'd had to go before a board of three doctors who all had to certify he was sane. He'd showed his certificate to this effect.

Clement Freud said that, as this was the only politician he'd ever known who could PROVE he was sane, the man deserved his vote.