THE GENERAL ELECTION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1071, 18 November 1911, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION

NEW BALLOT PAPER

At the forthcoming general election a new kind of ballot paper will be used. This new paper was tried for the first time in connection with the recent by-election lor the Christchurch North seat and was so entirely satisfactory that it has been decided to substitute it for the old one. In previous elections the ballot paper used was gammed at the corner and on this corner the Returning Officer wrote the elector’s number aud gummed it down. Under the new system the voting paper will not bear the roll number, but it will be numbered in a way that will make the means of identification easier in case of any irregularity. The papers will be in book form and the “butts” aud papers will be numbered consecutively. The Returning Officer will insert lire elector’s roll number on the “ butt ” and will show at which booth the vote was recorded. The corresponding parts of the stamp will be a .safeguard against the use of bogus papers. An examination ot the “ butts ” alone would trace any case of impersonation or duplication. The system of cancelling the names of the voters whom the elector does not wish to vote for will be in vogue as this system is found to be much mote satisfactory than that of placing a cross opposite the name of the candidate for whom the elector desires to vote. The surnames only of the candidates will appear on the voting papers and it is claimed that this will simplify matters considerably. For example ;

Bid wards Robinson Smith White The elector, who desired to vote for say, Smith, would strike out tiie names of all the other candidates. It is understood that the writs will be issued on Monday, aud as the rolls close at 6 p.m. on the day of the issue oi the writs, any person whose name does not at present appear on the roll should send in their application for enrolment at once. We have printed the new style of ballot paper for the Muuicipal by election to be held on Monday aud they will be used locally for the first time in New Zealand for such purpose.