Promise of results on polling day

Press, 1 April 1989, Page 6

Promise of results on polling day

The results of the first election for the new Christchurch City Council would be known on polling day, October 14, promised the returning officer, Mr Max Robertson, yesterday. In 1986, the first year the existing City Council used postal voting, there was a delay of four days before some ad hoc body results were known. It was essential that people knew on election day who had been elected, said the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay.

Mr Robertson said more counters would be rostered to ensure a result on the night. The number of papers to be handled would increase 80 per cent but total votes would fall from 1.9 million to 1.2 million. Waimairi’s Mrs Margaret Murray asked what

percentage of error would be in the electoral rolls. Mr Robertson said no complete enrolment would be held before the local body elections. The present rolls would be used. They had about 5 per cent error in the 1987 General Election and so the margin of error would be more than that.

Before July Mr Robertson will prepare the preliminary roll. Before August 4 he will give notice of the election and call for nominations for council positions. These close on September 1, as does the supplementary electoral roll. The roll will be certified before and come into force on September 26. Voting papers will be mailed out from September 29 to October 4. Special votes will be accepted from September 29.