THE NEW ELECTORAL ACT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2104, 27 September 1890, Page 3

THE NEW ELECTORAL ACT.

In view of the rapid approach ol the period fixed for the general election, the provisions of the new Electoral Act Amendment Act, 1890, will be of special interest to ©lectors. The Regulation of Elections Act, 1881, is incorporated with the above Act, but sections 10 to 16, schedules 3,4, and 5, with section 6 of the Electoral Acts Amendment Act, 1887, are repealed. These have reference to the mode of nomination, which is altered. On the receipt of a writ the returning officer is to endorse on it the date of receipt, and give at least 15 days’ notice of the day of election in the prescribed form. Any duly registered elector, with his consent, may be nominated as a candidate by a nomination paper signed by two electors of the district which is to be represented, and must reach the returning officer not later than seven days before the polling day. The consent may be by post in the ordinary way, or affixed to the nomination or by telegraph. It must be accompanied by a deposit of £lO, to be forfeited if the candidate does not poll one-tenth the number of votes polled by the successful candidate. Objections to the description of the candidate as insufficient must be made not less than five days before the poll. The names of all candidates are to be advertised in a newspaper circulated in the district, A candidate may withdraw, but not later than five days before the poll, by sending

a notice signed by him and attested by a Justice, and after such notice he will be incapable of election and any votes given him will be void and of no effect; the notice is to be published. Any elector who is unable to read or write may request a scutineer to inspect his voting paper after marking it. In case a candidate dies in the interim between nomination and polling days, proceedings are to be commenced afresh, as if the writ had been received on the day on which proof of the death was given to the Returning Officer, and the circumstances are to be endorsed on the writ. Section 45 of the 1881 Act is repealed, and in lieu thereof it is provided that the declaration of the poll shall be by public notice in a newspaper as soon as conveniently may be on or after the day of the poll. The remainder of the Bill applies to the votes of seamen.