ELECTION DAY VOTING PROCEDURE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1949, Page 6

ELECTION DAY VOTING PROCEDURE

Press AssociationJ

Strike jOut The Names And Issnes Not Wanted

(Per

WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. Although the Generai Elections will not be held until next week, certain ciasses of electors may cast their votes now. This was explained by the Chief Electoral Offieer, Mr. A. G. Harper, today. Electors who, for special reasons, are anable to attend'any polling bootli on election day, may vote now by postal vote, said Mr. Harper. Such yotes apply mainly to those who are unable to leave their homes >because of sickness, those who live in isolated localities and those who will be absent froin New Zealand such as seamen and overseas travellers. Postal votes have already been supplied to electors who are overseas and have made appiication. Application for a postal vote should be made to the returning offieer for the voter's electorate. Postal votes are also available on election day itself to those who have been unable to make previous application. In such cases an application from the elector in writing should be lodged by a member of the family or friend, with the retnrniug offieer or deputv returning offieer. After eompletion by the elector, tlie vote is returned by the friend. Hospital patients may also exercise a postal vote and returning offieer3 will be visit ing hospitals to make these arrangeinents, Voters who will be absent from theii own electorate may apply to any polling place for an absentee vote but electors are urged to vote in their own electorate wherever possible. Though an elector 's name may not appear on the roll, it does not necessarily mean that such person is' debarred from voting. He may vote by declaration — he may apply to a deputy returning offieer at any polling place iu his electorate, who will attend to the formalities. Declaration votes are also available to those who have qualified as electors since the rolls were close^ or within one month befoTe the rolls elosed and have taken steps to register. The issues before the electors are the same as in previous generai elections. A voter will receive two voting papers. ,The first is the election of member of Parliament for the electorate and the next is the generai licensing question — national continuance, State purchase and control or national prohibition. Electors of no licence areas will also vote on the local licensing questions of local restoration or local no licence. Voting procedure is the same as in the past. A voter strikes out the name of the candidate and issues he does not want. The only new features of this election are that Maori rolls. will I>e used and that "the Maori^will Vlso be voting on the generai licensing issues.