NEW BALLOT PAPER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 417, 25 November 1911, Page 7

NEW BALLOT PAPER.

The new improved form of voting papers to be used at the coming elections promises to be much less cumbrous, more explicit and simple than the old one, to effect a great saving of time all round, and to render the secrecy of the poll more invoilable still. It was used for the first time at the by-election at Christchurch, when it was reported on in the most favourable terms. The new form was explained by Mr F. W. Mansfield (Chief Electoral Ufficer). The first point about it is that it ensures the secrecy of the ballot by omitting the elector's ro'l number from the back of the ballot paper. By doing away with the elector's roll number on the back of the ballot paper the secrecy of the ballot is maintained, as the voter cannot be ascertained from the ballot without reference to the counterfoil, and the counterfoils are all sealed up after the closing of the poll before the ballot box is opened. The second point is the use of a counterfoil for recording the elector's roll numbar, and a consecutive number, which is repeated upon the corresponding ballot paper. The roll number on the counterfoil is necessary in order that cas.\s of apparent duplicate voting or personation may be readily investigated The consecutive number upon both the counterfoil and ballot papers is required in tracing a ballot paper when the returning officer' is satisfied beyond doubt that a case of duplicate voting or personation has occurred, The tracing of duplicate or plural vot ing involves only the handling of the counterfoils from the particular booths where the votes were recorded, and not the ballot papers themselves, as under the present system. The third point is the consecutive numbering of the ballot paper and counterfoil. This registers the exact number of ballot papers issued, thereby providing a constant check upon the number of voters who have recorded their votes. The stamping of the official mark across the perforation (the fourth point), so as to leave an imprint on both the counterfoil and the back of the ballot paper, is a reialble safeguard agaiii3t bogus ballot papers that might be surreptitiously introduce.! I into the ballot box.