Common electoral roll?

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 12

Common electoral roll?

PA Wellington An electoral roll for both the Government and local bodies which could be brought in by 1986 is proposed by the Internal Affairs The proposal was made in a paper presented to the conference of New •THE PRESS” CLASSIFIEDS Phone 792-440

Zealand . and Australian local bodies ministers in Christchurch. The department sees the plant as a long-term objective. The paper said major administrative changes would be needed. It supported the adoption of a common method for marking ballot papers. The scheme could be brought in before the 1986 localbody elections. . In parliamentary elections voters delete the names of candidates they do not wish to vote for while in local-body polls a cross is marked against the candidates voters want to elect. The paper said existence

of two separate systems for voting had led to confusion in the 1978 General Election. The department favoured the “cross” system recommended last year by the Wicks Committee which had examined the laws governing elections. “Many electors, particularly those in the older age-groups, become confused with the separate enrolment procedures,” said the paper. The paper, prepared by the deputy secretary for local government (Mr H. Williamson) is a departmental view and does not represent Government policy.