11. & 12. Debate: The General Principles of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill and The financial resolution in respect of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:18 pm on 2 February 2021.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 6:18, 2 February 2021

I again say that an election on 6 May must happen if at all possible, as my friend Alun Davies has said on several occasions. What I would say is, for those who oppose the possible extension, how would you deal with postal votes that cannot be collected, large-scale breakout of COVID-19 where people were told to stay at home, or where it's not possible to staff polling stations? For those who say that's not possible, can I take you back to 2001, when we postponed the general election and postponed council elections because of foot and mouth? So, it can happen.

I have one concern about the legislation. As anyone who's been an election agent will tell you, a large number of postal votes are disqualified because the date of return, not the date of birth, is entered, or the signature doesn't match. That is often due to a stroke or Parkinson's disease that has occurred since the person applied for a postal vote and their signature has changed, and changed dramatically. I understand that our partners in the UK have either written to the Minister or are intending to write to the Minister to raise exactly that point. Can I ask that we follow America, and allow people to correct the form by sending their date of birth, and also allowing them to explain why the signature does not match?

On leafleting, I've got leaflets at the printers waiting to go out, I've got leaflets ready to go to the printers ready to go out, but I think public safety must come first. As much as I would like to be wandering around the streets delivering leaflets—if only to help me lose some weight—I think it really is important that we look after the health of our constituents and our campaigners, and engage only when it's safe.