‘Very few’ left off electoral rolls

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 2

‘Very few’ left off electoral rolls

PA Wellington The Minister of Justice (Mr Thomson) said yesterday there might be a “few” cases where people had dodged voter applications but Shad still been left off the electoral rolls. “I believe they will be [very few,” he said. I In these cases the elector | should immediately get in touch with the electorate I officer and discuss the matiter with him. “I envisage this would :only apply where a voter 'can declare that he handed his card personally to the electorate officer or can call witnesses to show that it was handed to the electorate officer by someone else,” Mr Thomson said. The electorate officer could take this into account

i, in determining whether the ! person could cast a valid] : special vote. “This unprecedented ar-] . rangement shows the Gov-; ernment’s determination to) ■ do everything in its power; t to ensure that no voter who: ; is qualified and has carried] out his obligations is; ? deprived of an effective vote,” he said. r Mr Thomson outlined how: i special votes would, be) J checked in the elections: The]’ - returning officer would first]; check the name against his) I main and supplementary |i ' rolls. ji 1 “This should result in the; : vast majority of special ii 1 votes cast outside the dis-j’ : trict being endorsed'! and being ; i • j counted,” he said. is ■ The voter’s declaration] •(would be sent to the elec-|i titorate officer if the nameK

■ could not be , found on the ; rolls. “The electorate officer will I check his roll, the 1975 roll, ■ and late application cards, (held by him. He will also! I take into account the pro-; I duction of documentary evi-) ]dence and other information) (available,” Mr Thomson isaid. ■ “If the electorate officer; (cannot ascertain whether the) jspecial voter is qualified he!] ■ will forward the declaration; Ito the Chief Electoral] ) Officer who will check his l) (records to determine the! i matter. ■ “This step will be of par- , Iticular benefit in any case) • where the special voter has! 'been accidently placed onl| ■ the wrong roll,” Mr Thom-!. ■ son said. i) In previous elections this), •vote might not have been;] counted, he said.