SWING TO POSTAL VOTES

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 1

SWING TO POSTAL VOTES

(By our local body reporter)

Although it has been argued that the only voter worth considering is the one prepared to go to a polling booth to vote, more councils than ever have adopted postal voting in the belief that they have a duty to unake it easy for people to vote, especially in country districts.

Eleven of the councils in North Canterbury will have postal voting this year, including, for the first time, the Paparua County Council, which, with 14,000 sets of voting papers, and 80,000 individual voting papers covering the 17 issues, is believed to be the biggest

in the country on postal vot ing. Postal ballots can product 80 per cent or more of the possible votes, often twice at many as by the polling boot! route, but there are excep tions. In 1971, Lytteltor Borough, using booths, got 66.75 per cent of the possible votes. Although Paparua’s posta! ballot will cost $lO,OOO compared with $BOOO for o normal poll, the council, anti others using the postal system, think it is good because of the bigger and more representative vote. Postal voting papers have now been sent to the electors. They must be returned before the polls close at noon on election day, October 12. Returning officers warn electors to be

- careful to see that papers are posted early enough to avoid . too-late delivery, and that ! they should not assume that ! the postal polls close at 7 p.m., the booth-voting clos- ! ing time. Postal voting [ papers can be delivered in person to the councils con- ' cemed. In North Canterbury, postal ballots will be held in ! the counties of Paparua, Ellesmere, Malvern, Akaroa, Eyre, Rangiora, Ashley, Waipara, and Oxford, and in the boroughs of Riccarton and Rangiora. Electors who do not get papers should check to see if there actually is an election in their county riding, as some have no contests. Voting at polling booths in the old way will be held in Christchurch City. Lyttel-

ton and Kaiapoi boroughs, and the counties of Waimairi, Heathcote, Mount Herbert, Wairewa, Amuri, and Cheviot. Three of these councils will make it easier for electors by having extended voting hours. Christchurch City electors can vote at 16 booths in the various wards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 9, 10 and 11. Waimairi electors can go to seven booths, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from next Wednesday to Friday. Lyttelton electors can vote at the Buffalo Lodge hall, London Street, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Wednesday and Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Thursday. In all cases where booths are in use, the normal voting hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. will apply on October 12. Special voting papers are now being issued by the councils, and this will continue until closing times foi the two types of poll. . Special votes are available for those who will be absent on polling day, the sick or the infirm, those who are not on the council roll but will reach their 18th birthday on or before election day, and those who are on a Parliamentary roll, but not on the council roll, for the council district concerned.