POSTAL VOTING EASIER

Chronicle (Levin), 11 October 1946, Page 6

POSTAL VOTING EASIER

WELLINGTON, Oct. 10. A simplilication of the system of postal voting to apply at the general election on November 27, is brought about by the Electoral (Postal Voting) Regulations 1946, which are published with tonight's Gazette. Postal voting at the election, as provided by these regulations, is based on a former system but one of the forms required . in the past has been abolished and tlio voter compelled to vote by post will have less trouble in doing so and will run less risk of having his vote disallowed because it was not returned to the issuing officer in time. The voter will now be able to apply to his returning officer by letter, no special form being required, and a declaration form and voting papers will be forwarded to him. The declaration, when completed, may be posted to the returning officer or deposited with any deputy returning officer on polling day. Postal voting will still apply to the same classes of persons as formeriy — that is, to the sick and inlirm and other voters unable to reach a polling booth, such as iightliouse keepers, traveliers, etcefera. Postal voting papcrs-may also be issued on polling day by any deputy returning officer so that a voter who is outside his voting district unexpectediy will simply apply for his papers and declaration at the booth in the district he is visiting. The alterations in the .system will reduce the number of votes that previously were disallowed through not being received on time, as in future postal voting papers can be lodged on polling day at any polling booth. In the past they were required to be in tlie hands of the issuing officer by the time tlie poll closcd.