ROUND THE BOOTHS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 10

ROUND THE BOOTHS

Election Day Incidents VOTERS’ METHODS VARY With the rain drearily dripping from leaden skies, it was almost a matter of impossibility for even ardent citizens, usually ready to criticise any municipal activity, to display much interest in yesterday’s elections. All are creatures subject to the passing whims of the Inconstant weather. In no case, perhaps, is this more aptly demonstrated than on election days. Warm, bright weather engenders bright'spirits, quickens the faculties into taking a lively interest in whatever is happening. but steady, heavy rain just as surely eliminates that vital spirit and keen interest. Yesterday was the dullest of election days. * * * “You voting?” .. . “Yes. .. ” “Numher 18, please!” . .’ . "You—number 211” These sharp-set instructions from an usher at one of the big polling places conveyed an impression of efficiency. Resolved to test it out, one of the voters addressed followed the direction. To tlie poll clerk he gave his name and status, and in three minutes received his five ballot papers. There were five screened-off boards (all occupied), on which to mark the papers, but after waiting three or four minutes without a move from any one of the voters at the boards, the voter, in desperation, spread his ballot papers on top of the ballot-boxes, and, in view of anyone who eared to look, vigorously set to work. He did his marking in two min-. utes. . . . The same five who were at the desks when he received his papers were still steadily employed when the voter left. • • • . At another booth a deputy-returning officer was asked if he could hazard a guess at the average time taken by an elector to record his vote. “It all depends,” he replied, "on the intelligence of the voter.” “The intelligent in this case,” he explained, “are those who come to the booth knowing for whom they are not going to vote. That is, after all, the best way to view a' ballot paper, and one then has merely to score off the names to be rejected.” “As to intelligence one may be deceived,” continued the deputy. “Now, that old lady at No. 3 seemed quite bright when she got her papers, but she has been there twenty minutes now —and still there is no sign of a move.” » » » Flushed-faced, and with his long hair tousled by violent interference, aburly worker emerged from a tussle with his ballot paper. “Phew! Thank the Lord, that’s over for another two years!” was his hearty comment on his completed task.

“Have you reason to believe that your name was on the roll ?” This was the leading question put to electors who at the last moment found that their names were not on the roll. If the elector answered in the affirmative the deputy-returning officer had no option but to allow him or her to vote by declaration. At the Town Hall, where there were twenty polling booths, one booth was set aside to record votes by declaration. Up to about 3 p.m. some 70 votes had been recorded in that manner. One other city booth had dealt with a dozen such votes, a fid another had half a dozen to deal with only.

“These people are all quite honest,” said one deputy. “They simply confuse the Parliamentary roll with the municipal one, and are genuinely surprised, as a rule, when they find their names are not Included.”

In the Town Hall, where there were twenty booths, made of movable screens, each booth was marked by a number in black figures on a large white card. When one elector ventured somewhat timidly into the big auditorium yesterday, an usher said to him sharply, “Take No. 7!” and pointed in the direction of the booth so marked. To the surprise of the usher, the elector went toward the booth and was taking down the card labelled “No. 7,” when he was ordered to desist, and was then conducted to the booth.

One elderly lady wandered rather absent-mindedly into a polling booth in the afternoon. Not being too sure of herself, she approached a table and was asked her name. It was not on the roll. She then confessed that she thought she was entering a grocery store.

The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, setting a good example to citizens, went into the polling booth at the Town Hall about a quarter past 10 yesterday morning. It took him about seven minutes to receive and complete the five papers.

One elector who had been in to record his votes at the Town Hall said he did not believe in “plumping.” He thought a “full paper” should be voted, lie had started on the City Council voting paper by striking out the names of those for whom he did not want to vote, and when he had done that, he found that only 12 names were left on the paper. He. did not ask for a fresh paper, but took care to vote the' full strength on the remaining papers. ■