204. The deputy returning officer, upon the application of any voter who is unable to read or is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner prescribed by this division, shall assist such elector by marking his ballot paper in the manner directed by such elector, in the presence of the sworn agents of the candidates, or of the sworn electors representing them in the polling station, and of no other person.
The deputy returning officer shall require the elector making such application, before voting, to make oath, in form 25, of his incapacity to vote without such assistance.
Whenever a voter has been assisted in marking his ballot, mention thereof shall be made in the poll book opposite his name, and, in addition to the entries required by section 207, mention shall also be made therein of the reason why such ballot was marked by the deputy returning officer.
A voter who has declared on oath that he is unable to vote without assistance because of blindness and who is accompanied by a relative or friend may request that such relative or friend be authorized, instead of the deputy returning officer, to accompany him in one of the booths of the polling station and to mark his ballot. If such relative or friend makes oath according to form 26, the deputy returning officer shall comply with such request.
R. S. 1964, c. 193, s. 231; 1968, c. 55, s. 82.