The Press SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1963. Every Vote Counts

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1963. Every Vote Counts

Today the electors of NewZealand have the privilege of deciding how they will be governed for the next

three years. It is a privilege that was not lightly earned—and one that is freely enjoyed by only a minority of the world’s peoples. The right to vote is also a responsibility. Unless the great majority of electors exercise their franchise the result of the polls will distort the opinion of the people of New Zealand. Every vote is important, even in constituencies where the contest appears to be little more than a formality, for at least three good reasons. First, it

demonstrates that electors do value the privilege and are ready to do their small part to retain it. Second, it demonstrates exactly what support the various candidates have attracted. Third, even in the “ safest ” electorates upsets are not unknown, and even a single vote could be decisive. Indeed. it is not impossible, on the evidence of some recent elections in New Zealand, for a single vote in a single electorate to decide

the national issue. That is not to say that an elector who wishes consciously to exercise his undoubted right to abstain from voting would be wrong to do so. In a sense he uses his vote if, for reasons that appear good to him, he does not cast it. But no-one should abstain from laziness or lack of interest. Electors have had no lack of advice on how to vote. Candidates and their supporters have addressed innumerable meetings, and the newspapers have full}’ and fairly reported what the candidates and their parties have said. Radio broadcasts have been supplemented this year by the powerful new medium of television. If, after all this electioneering, anyone cannot make up his mind about policies he can still fall back on a personal judgment and vote for the candidate that seems best fitted to serve in Parliament. Everything possible is done to make voting an easy duty to perform; and New Zealanders have a good record in the discharge of that duty. Today they should try to improve on the record.