YOUNG ELECTORS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3297, 6 August 1943, Page 5

YOUNG ELECTORS

MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD NUMBER ON MAIN ROLL PREPARING FOR THE ELECTION Young persons who are not yet 21 years of age, but who will reach the qualifying age for enrolment before the election cannot enrol in anticipation of that qualification. The principal qualification for the franchise is that a person must be of 21 years of age. Upon reaching that age anyone, being qualified in other respects, may apply for enrolment. However, a person not yet 21 years old, but who will be prior to Septembei* 25, can enrol only on or after the date of the 21st. birthday. If that date falls after the closing of the rolls, which takes- place automatically on the day of the issue of the election writs, then such a person cannot be enrolled for this election. The number of names on the Thames

electorate main roll for the coming election will be approximately 10,670. At the 1938 election the roll contained . 11,490 names. Since the closing of the main roll a number of applications have been received by the registrar, whose staff is being kept busy on this 'iiiiiiiihiiii inßiiiiiiinilllsililiilillllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllUliuilllHlllllllllllinilllllllllßUllllHiin

work. The supplementary roll for the last election contained 2104 names, and while it is difficult to estimate what the position may be this year, it is thought the supplementary roll for the coming election may be larger. This year’s election will be more complicated than usual by the fact that so many men are on overseas service with the forces, many of whom went into military service before they were eligible to enrol as electors. Very few of the names of the men who are overseas appear on the roll, but as provision is made for them to exercise their vote, whether they are enrolled or not, the fact is not a material one.

It has been pointed out also that soldiers from overseas who are on sick leave or on furlough, have the same rights in respect to voting at the election. • While in New Zealand, however, they are qualified to enrol on the roll of the electorate in which they last permanently lived. before going on service. If they enrolled, and voted as ordinary voters, it would facilitate the work of the returning officers and their deputies.