Role of comma in this sentence

[Dominoes]

I just looked up the word "consituent" in the Oxford Dictionary. One of the definitions is: "a person who lives, and can vote in a constituency". Does the comma in the definition play an important part? If the comma were removed, would the meaning still be the same?

Thank you

[5jj]

I think it is incorrect. We need either no comma or this: A person who lives, and can vote, in a constituency. I prefer it without commas.

[Dominoes]

I think it is incorrect. We need either no comma or this: A person who lives, and can vote, in a constituency. I prefer it without commas.

I'm glad you said that. My initial thought was the same, but then I thought: "Surely, the dictionary can't be wrong!".

Thanks for your time :)

[emsr2d2]

With only the first comma it appears that the person must be 1) alive and 2) currently able to vote in a constituency.
2 would be difficult without 1.

[Tdol]

Could it be to distinguish constituents from non-resident (expat) voters?

[emsr2d2]

Could it be to distinguish constituents from non-resident (expat) voters?

With both commas, that's exactly how I would read it.

[SoothingDave]

Death is not a barrier to further voting in many of our fine cities.

[emsr2d2]

Death is not a barrier to further voting in many of our fine cities.

Well, being brain dead clearly isn't a barrier to becoming a serving politician.

[5jj]

Well, being brain dead clearly isn't a barrier to becoming a serving politician.

If I didn't know better, ems, I would suspect a soupçon of cynicism there.

[Tdol]

With both commas, that's exactly how I would read it.

Or someone who lives there but cannot vote- under-age or not a national.