ELECTORAL ACT

Evening Star, Issue 24004, 1 October 1941, Page 5

ELECTORAL ACT

ADDITIONS TO MEET WAR ELECTION

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. Additions to the Electoral Act of 1927 of a nature to be expected if a General Election is to be held in war time were included in the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House to-night. The Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Minister in charge of the Bill, Mr Mason, said it was the usual miscellaneous measure, and most of the amendments involved were minor ones. The electoral provisions include a clause enabling persons who are outside New Zealand to_ consent to their nomination as candidates for Parliament in any way approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. There are also extended provisions for postal voting. The amendment included will enable persons who, because of their religion, are precluded from on a Saturday, to use the postal voting system, and will also allow the Chief Electoral Officer to deal with any unusual situation. A third clause applies to Maoris, provisions relating to absent voters and postal voting enabling them to vote under these headings in the same way as Europeans. Voting at elections and licensing polls by members of the forces who are serving continually in New Zealand is covered by another clause. It enables such men, who are of age, to vote in the same way as soldiers overseas. The final clause in this section deals with voting by seamen in ships outside New Zealand waters, and enables their votes to be taken in the same way as those of members of the forces overseas.