Secrecy Of Ballot Box Is Closely Guarded

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 26

Secrecy Of Ballot Box Is Closely Guarded

There were stringent regulations governing the handling of voting papers to ensure their secrecy at all times, the chief returning officer in Christchurch (Mr J. L. W. Gerken) said yesterday in reply to a correspondent. Only the returning officer, his assistants and any scrutineers who chose to be present were allowed to study any voting paper and then only when there was reason to believe that one voter had voted twice.

The correspendent, J. G. Freeman, 1 Lynfield avenue wrote:

“It is generally recognised that the secret ballot is a cornerstone of democracy. “Our electoral system, in order to ensure that there is no plural voting, insists that all ballot papers be numbered. This single act ensures that nobody’s vote is secret. “In order to ensure that nobody votes twice is it necessary to render the ballot box “Surely a new system can

be devised to guard against plural voting without destroying the secrecy of the vote.” Mr Gerken said it was only in the case of plural voting that the returning officer, his assistants and scrutineers were allowed to remove the sticker covering the numbers on ballot papers. If, after due inquiry, he was satisfied that the person concerned did not vote twice, he would allow the first vote and disallow any other vote which he was satisfied had been made by some unauthorised person.

If the returning officer was satisfied the elector had voted twice both votes were disallowed and the elector was liable to prosecution. It was only in those circumstances that papers might be checked.

“After any inquiry the papers are sealed and are not available to anyone unless by a court in connexion with a prosecution,” he said.