BATTLE ZONE POLLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 9, 10 July 1943, Page 4

BATTLE ZONE POLLS

SOUTH AFRICAN SYSTEM

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, July 8. The South Africans, as the first Dominions servicemen -to vote outside their country, have organised an election scheme in the Middle East which may be used as a pattern for the New Zealanders' ballot later this year, as the South Africans have had to overcome difficulties closely resembling our own. South African troops and airmen ■are serving on four continents and sailors on ships between the Red Sea and the English Channel. It is estimated that 90 per cent, of South Africans serving in the Middle East and across North Africa and on the Atlantic coast have signed ballot papers. By early this week, almost half of their votes were on their way by air to South Africa.

A small staff of election officials covered thousands of miles in a matter of weeks, distributing ballot papers, giving advice on the method of voting, and dividing their territory into huge electoral areas, one of which; began on. the Tripolitanian border in Libya and ended at the Atlantic coast. Along the coast, at every station where South Africans in ships might call, arrangements were made for ballot papers to be accepted. Though there were no compulsory parades for voting, every South African was urged in lectures to sign the ballot papers.

Every man and woman was shown a copy of the manifestoes of the five main parties, including the anti-war Opposition. The service ballot began on June 15, three weeks before election day. in the Union. Between fighter sweeps and bomber sorties, in tank repair workshops, in secret offices where even the election officials were taken blindfolded, and in. dozens of other stations and outposts, votes were taken and sent back to Cairo, where they went by a special service to South Africa. The ballot papers were sent in batches so that if one aircraft was lost no great number of votes would be destroyed.

One difference between the South African overseas election and the conditions so far as is known for the New Zealand ballot, is that no South African minors were allowed to vote.