MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5108, 30 March 1927, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

NEED FOR EARLY ENROLMENT. VOTERS’ QUALIFICATIONS. The municipal election will take place this year cn April 27, and the supplementary roll is now being prepared by the local borough Council. The elections will include the Mayor (if there is a contest), Borough Council, Thames Harbour Board, Thames Hospital Board, and Thames Valley Electric Power Board representation, and it therefore becomes the immediate duty of electors not yet on the roll to make early application if they desire to exercise the franchise. The roll will be closed c.n Wednesday, April 13. Frequently a mistake in filling in tlie application form for enrolment will prevent its acceptance, and if the lodging of the application is left until the last moment there will be no time for the necessary corrections io be made.

Many people are. still under the impression that because they voted at the Parliamentary election in 1925 their names will be on the municipal roll, but such is not the case, as the two rolls are entirely separate. The onus is on the elector to see that his or her name is included on the borough roll which will be used next month.

As to who may vote at the municipal election. There are first of all the persons who come within the broad definition pf “residents.” The qualSl fications necessary to be able to vote as a resident are that the person concerned is over 21 years of age and is a British subject by birth or naturalisation. He or she must have resided within the Dominion for a minimum time of 12 months, and within the Borough of Paeroa for the last three months.

The next section comprises the ratepayers, and they will have the right to vote on any loan proposal that may be submitted. On the forthcoming election a proposal to raise a loan of £2ooo’ for the purpose of erecting municipal swimming baths will be submitted.

VOTING SYSTEM ALTERATIONS.

Under the Local Bodies Elections and Polls Act, 1926, a number of alterations have been made in the system of voting at local bodies, polls and elections. Instead of the old method of putting a cross against the name of the candidate the elector wished .to vote for, the elector is now required to cross out the names pf those for whom he or she does, not desire t'° vote.

The main alteration is with regard to the method of voting by incorporated bodies, unincorporated societies or associations, or firms or joint tenants. In these eases where the name of the body or firm appears, on the roll the vote may be exercised as follows:—

1. Incorporated bodies, the name of which is entered on the roll, may by resolution appoint some person to act on their behalf, and a sealed copy of that resolution produced to the returning officer shall be sufficient authority to allow the person named therein to vote, 2. The unincorporated societies, copartnerships, or joint tenants, may, by writing signed in the name of such firms, co-partners, or j'oint tenants, appoint some person to vote at the election or poll, and the production of a letter signed by such firm, etc., shall be sufficient authority to entitle a person to vote on their behalf.

Another important alteration js that any person authorised by either of the foregoing methods to vote is not deprived of a vote on his own behalf providing his or her name is on the roll.