The variational method is used to investigate the elastic scattering of slow electrons by the positive helium ion. Zero order phases and wave functions found by this method are shown to agree, in general, with those found by numerical integrations of the wave equation, both when the wave function is of the `one-body' type and when it is of the correct symmetry. The inclusion in the trial wave function of a term involving the distance between the two electrons is found to lead to smaller phases. Detailed results are given for energies of the incident electron in the range 3-60 eV.