ENROLMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1928, Page 7

ENROLMENT.

LITTLE TIME LEFT. WRITS TO RE ISSUED THIS WEEK. Now that Wednesday, November LI, has been fixed as the date of the general election, it is probable that the writs will be issued on .Friday of this week, after which . no further enrolments of electors can take place. The Act provides for the closing of the rolls at (? p.m. on the day of the issue of the writs. There is, therefore, very little time left in which to get enrolled. The last general election was held on November 4th, 1925. The writs were issued on October 15 and nominations closed on October 27, eight days before the date of the election. ,

A noteworthy fact is that the Federal general election in Australia and the general election in New Zealand will belli be held on the same day. This is most unusual and it appears to have been the result of an arrangement between the Bruce Government in Australia and the Coates .Government-; with the object of avoiding the possibility of either election influencing the other. For many years past, it has been the custom in Australia to hold the Federal and State elections on Saturdays, and it was anticipated that this year’s Federal, election would take place on November 17. It would appear, therefore, that in selecting November 14 the two Governments have come to a mutual understanding in the matter.

The Legislature Amendment Act passed last year extended the period for the return of the writs from 28 days to, 40. This extension of time was necessitated by the introduction of postal voting and the increase inthe number of absentee voters. The franchise in New Zealand is, in fact, wider than it has ever been before. The postal voting system is available to any elector who—(a) Will on polling-day be absent from Now Zealand. (1>) Will not throughout tine hours of polling on polling-day be within five miles by the nearest practical route of any polling-place. (e) Will throughout the hours of polling day be travelling under conditions which will preclude him from attending at any polling-place to vote.

(d) Is ill or infirm, and by reason of such illness or infirmity will be precluded from attending at any pollingplace to vote, or, in the case of a woman, will by approaching or recent maternity be precluded from attending at any polling-place to vote. (e) Is a light-house keeper or member of a light-house keeper’s staff, or is the wife of a member of a liglit-bousc keeper’s staff, and will be precluded from attending at any polling-place to vote.

Postal vote-certificates and postal ballot-papers may be issued by returning officers at any time during ordinary office hours after the issue of the Writ and before the time prescribed for the close of the poll. An elector desirous of voting by this means should communicate with the returning officer of the district for which he is registered, when a font? of application will be forwarded to him by post, with extracts from the regulations relating to postal voting printed on the back thereof. The regulations are to be read carefully before completing the form of application.

The provisions in regard to seamen’s voting rights have not been altered since last election. A seaman is required to register in the electorate in which he is ordinarily domiciled, and, if lie has no place of abode, at the port where re signed articles, or, if discharged, at the port of his discharge. A seaman can vote at any time after the issue of the writ, including the period before nominations have clcssd. In tins ease he may write down the name of a person who be believes is likely to be a candidate, and if that person is nominated, the vote becomes valid. Seamen who leave the Dominion before tlie issue of the writs and do not return until after the election cannot vote.

A new provision in the Act requires a person applying to vote as an absentee to satisfy the deputy-returning oHioer that lie is unable to vote in his own district. This has been included in order to overcome a difficulty experienced last election, when electors enrolled in, say, Christchurch South, voted as absent, voters in Christchurch East, because they would not take the trouble to go to a polling booth, in Christchurch South. During the remaining few days enrolments and transfers will he received by the registrar of electors. Every day a number of men and women reach the age < f 21 .and become eligible as tors, and others complete the period of residence in the Dominion a.s required by the Act. or have become naturalised citizens. Now that enrolment is compulsory every person who is eligible a.s an elector should he on the roll. Enrolment forms are available, and copies of the roll may he seen at all post offices, and at stores, in each electorate, ft is therefore the duty of every citizen to sec that he or she is on the roll before the writs are issued.