EDUCATION BOARDS ELECTION ACT.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 44, 14 January 1902, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARDS ELECTION ACT.

—o — With the object of providing for secrecy of voting at Education Board elections the Legislature passed the Education Boards Election Act. It provides that not later than thirty eight days before the date of the election the Returning Officer must advertise the number of vacancies, the date on which nominations will close, and the date of Jtlie election. Nominations must close at 5 p.m on the twenty second day before the date of the election. Every candidate must be nominated by at least two of the electors, and the nomination paper, bearing the candidates consent in writing, must be received by .the Returning Officer before the nominations are closed. Not later than seventeen days before the date of the election the Returning Officer must advertise the number of members to be elected, the full name"of every duly nominated candidate, and the day on which elections will be held and the hour at which the poll will be closed ; besides forwardind to the chairman of each school committee sufficient voting papers for the members of the committee. The Returning Officer and scrutineers must sign a declaration of secrecy, and if either of them makes known the state of the poll before the final declaration, he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO. In the case of an extraordinary vacancy the date of the election must be fixed by the Board, but it must not be later than fifty days after the vacancy occurs.