WHO MAY VOTE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 126, 23 February 1944, Page 6

WHO MAY VOTE

Forthcoming Municipal Elections NEED TO REGISTER Many inquiries have been received ■about the voting rights of citizens at the forthcoming municipal election, particularly those who belong to places outside Wellington 'but are here on wartime occupations. The position, as outlined to “The Dominion” yesterday by the Wellington city rolls clerk, Mr. Southwood, is simple, and, being governed by legislation for all New Zealand, has general application. British subjects either by ‘birth or by naturalization having effect in New Zealand, who have lived in the Dominion for the last 12 months and in Wellington lor the last three months, and who are 21 or over before the closing of the supplementary roll, April 22, are entitled to apply to have their names placed on the roll. Unless a person is entered on the roll he cannot vote. . There are 58,384 persons on the main roll which closed in January. lue figures for the five Parliamentary electorates of Wellington city plus half the number on the Wellington Suburbs ro.l (which includes Khandallah Rgaio ami Wadestown), total more than 100,900. The basic qualification of age. and residence for being on both Parliamentary and municipal rolls are the same. An important difference is that it is com-, pulsory to register for Parliamentary elections. There is no absentee voting in municipal elections. This may be hard on invalids or others unable to get to a polling place, but it is the law. An owner of a Wellington property who lives outride Wellington cannot use, his ratepayer’s voting right other than at a Wellington booth. It is likely that one will bo provided at Lower Hutt, but it is too early yet to state the positions of any booths. ’

Soldiers stationed in the Wellington city area who have the basic residential and age qualifications are entitled to be entered on the roll. The same position would apply elsewhere with camps situate in municipal or county- areas. But a eoldier or civilian belonging to another city, borough or county who has not resided in his. present place for three mouths by the date of the closing of the district supplementary roll cannot exercise his vote in his home town without being there (and entered on the roll) on election day. A soldier ordinarily living elsewhere but who has the residential qualification for Wellington or some other district is entitled to register where he has qualified. His name might still remain on the roll of his home district, but, legal considerations apart, the physical limits to being in two districts on the one day safeguard the legislative principle of one person one vote. No servicemen’s names have been struck off the 1941 Wellington roll unless the men are known to be dead or have advised of their leaving the district to live elsewhere or have otherwise lost their qualification. Married Women’s Rights.

A married woman is entitled to the sam’e qualification as her husband, but the roll authorities must be informed of the relationship. This is particularly important with women whose husbands are ratepayers, because a loan poll, on which ratepayers and freeholders alone vote, will be held in conjunction with the Wellington municipal. elections. It is believed that at present many married women are on the roll with a residential qualification when they are actually entitled, by reason of their husband’s position, to that of a ratepayer. Similarly, a husband is entitled to a ratepayer’s qualification where his wife owns the property. The definition of a ratepayer is not one who pays rates, but one whose name appears on the Valuation Roll as an occupier of premises. Thus, the lessee of a building whose name is entered as occupier on - the Valuation Roll, is entitled to a ratepayer’s vote. He cannot, however, have more than one < vote, assuming that he is the owner of a house or other property. A person whose name is recorded on the valuation roll as trustee for an estate can vote on behalf of the estate, but he may exercise only one vote, either as trustee or on his own behalf. The same applies to representatives of companies, societies and the like. In- the case of married persons who are separated, the spouse of the owner of a property is entitled to a ratepayer’s vote, the married state between the parties being still legally existent. . The five voting qualifications are freeholder, ratepayer, residential, occupier and State tenant. The ratepayer qualification takes priority over all others. That is, the ratepayer qualification only must be inscribed on the roll where a citizen has more than one qualification. State tenants (occupiers of State houses) usually take the State tenant qualification. If they are not already on the .roll they must, if they wish to vote, furnish their full names and occupations as the advice received -of their tenancy gives only their initials. This would not be. sufficient to identify them at the polling booth.

Lost Qualifications.

Freeholders and ratepayers frequently lose their qualification as such by not advising the rojls clerk of subsequent purchases or occupations of premises following their disposal of > the premises originally giving them freeholder or ratepayer qualification. The new occupiers or owners of such premises are placed on the roll automatically as advice :s received from the Valuation Department The former occupiers or owners are then requested by card sent to their iast known address to advise if they possess any other qualification for the roll. It they do not reply they are struck off. Persons Who advised the roll authorities of their departure from Wellington but who have since returned to reside here, must give advice of this before they can be replaced on the roll. This applies chiefly to persons with the residential qualification. Between now and the closing of the supplementary roll, April 22, election committees of the various interests will be busy placing persons on the roll, but enrolments may still be made at the town clerk’s office in the central library building, Mercer Street. Citizens may inquire there meantime whether or not they are registered. When the main roll is printed it wiL be placed in post offices, libraries and certain stores throughout the electoral district. With the exception of the po.it offices, application forms will be available in the same places as the rolls, but tlie onus is on the applicant to forward the application to the town clerk. Main rolls will also be made available to the various campaign committees.

Polling day is Saturday, May 20. There are 9546 names on the Low’r Hutt city main roll —1000 more than in 1941, Petope borough main roll totals 5762, a few less than 1941. Upper Hutt has 2500, approximately the same an 1941.