The Law of the Election.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43383, 3 November 1908, Page 3

The Law of the Election.

IMPORTANT TO ELECTORS. It is of little use to the elector to observe the repeated injunctions to get on the roll, unless he is made acquainted witn the qualifications necessary to onrolment, the way in which he must record his vote, and the various penalties toat attach to infringements of the Electoral Law. Accordingly, we append a digestof those portions of the Electoral Act, 1900, which have a specially personai interest to the general elector. Ine IJO2 Act has been amended to provide that, a person who has lived twelve months in the colony at any time may claim enrolment if resident in any electorate for the three months immediately preceding his application. Under the old law a person changing his residence, and effecting a transfer” might find his name on two rolls, but this is now impossible, for in making application he must state whether his name appears on any other roll, and thus enable the Registrar to direct the removal of his name from that roll. Any elector .making a claim for enrolment while absent from his district may have his signature witnessed by any Registrar of Electors, Justice of the Peace, 01 Postmaster.

£2O or three months’ imprisonment awaits any one who, having received a claim for enrolment by another person for transmission to the Registrar, fails to deliver it. so that such other person is not enrolled.

Hitherto failure to vote has meant bemg stmek off the roll. This has been chinged, and the Registrar, on receiving a marked roll showing those who did not vote, shall make all enquiry as to the nonvotcr s qualification before striking him oft. As female electors are continually being mamed and changing their names, it is provided fhat tbe .Registrar shall be finished with a monthly list of marriages registered, in order to make the necessary con-ections. Should such a correction not bo made before the writ is is issued, the female voter concerned can vote under her former name (if qualified). An absent voter’s permit can be issued on application up to the issue of the writ by every elector who finds he will be absent from his electorate on polling y. Such an elector may exercise his vote for a candidate in his own district at any (polling booth in the colony, such vote being transmitted by post to his district. r

Election day is a compulsory halfhohday, but in the case of a factoiY it sball be sufficient to give such employee a reasonable opportunity of voting. To ‘ save his deposit ” a candidate must receive at least one-fourth of the votes received by the successful candidate, instead of one tenth as formerly. It is an offence to interfere with any elector in a polling booth or while on his way thereto with the intention of influencing him or advising him as to his vote ; or to print or distribute or deliver on polling day or the three preceding days anything being or purporting to be an imitation of any ballot paper to be used at the poll, and having thereon the names (f the candidates, together with any direction or indication as to how any perspn should vote, or in any way containing any such direction or indication, or having thereon any matter likely to influence any vote; or to make any public demonstration having reference to the poll while it is going on. rafThe only persons a candidate may employ for payment are: One scrutineer, one clerk, and one messenger for each polling place, and one secretary.