THE BALLOT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2353, 17 October 1870, Page 2

THE BALLOT.

The approaching election of members of the Provincial Council of Southland to represent that Province in the Otago Council takes place next week, and will be by ballot. As the election takes place under the new Act, the process will no doubt be that adopted in future elections for the Provincial Council and General Assembly. The principal directions are as follow : The voter is to strike out the name of every person for whom he does not intend to vote, by drawing a line through the name with a pen or pencil. He must be careful not to leave uucaucclled the names of more than seven, or the paper will be invalid. The ballot paper must then be folded, so as to conceal the names of all the persons printed on the paper, and the ballot paper must then be put in the ballot box by the voter. The ballot paper must not be taken out of the room in which the ballot is taken. The above direct ons shall be printed on the paper, and shall be complied with and enforced. The ballot shall bo taken in the said chamber, and the said chamber shall lie so arranged that there shall be in the same an inner compartment, and there shall be provided by the said William Wood (the returning officer) therein pencils and pens and ink for the use of the voters. The said William Wood shall also provide a ballot box with an opening therein to receive the ballot papers, and with a lock and key. Before proceeding to take the poll, the said William Wood shall exhibit, for the inspection of the voters, the ballot box, open ami empty, and shall then forthwith take the same, being still empty, an I sot the same, empty and unopened, ou a table in front of him, and in view of the persons present in the said chamber, and so keep the same till the ballot is concluded. There shall he delivered at the said meeting by the said William Wood, to each person entitled to vote, and who shall desire to vote, a ballot paper, and every person to whom a ballot paper shall he delivered shall forthwith retire alone to the said compartment, and shall there alone, and without delay, strike out from such ballot paper the names of the persons for whom he does not intend to vote, and shall forthwith fold up such ballot paper in suck manner as will conceal the names of the porsms on the ballot paper, and deposit it in the ballot box, in tbe presence of the said William Wood.