Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1905. THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3552, 27 July 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1905. THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Several new provisions are contained in the Electoral Bill, which, is, also a consolidating measure. The seat of a member of the House is to become vacant if he becomes a contractor fof the Government. The Electoral Act is to be administered by a chief electoral officer, assisted by a deputy; for each electoral district there must be a separate registrar) who may also be the returning officer for the same district, and it is set out that 41 No registrar or returning officsr shall held any official position in connection with any political organisation,” The general roll in every district is to be closed ou March list in every year, after which date no names are to be added to the general roll, and the roll ie to he printed as soon as practicable after that date. Failure to deliver a claim for enrolment is made an offence punishable by a fine Up t« £*o or im> prisonment for three months. Pre. vision is mads by which a person who is qualified to vote, but is not on the roll, may be allowed to vote on making a declaration as to his qualifications up to the day of nomination. An elector may apply to the registrar for an absent voter's permit) which will enable him to record his vote at a polling booth Outside his district of registration, and his ballot paper will he forwarded to the returning officer of the district for which the vote U exercised. The deputy returning officer is made personally responsible for the safo custody of the ballot papers, and a fine up to £to6 maybe imposed on any person obtaining any ballot paper other than the one given him by the returning officer.