ABSENT VOTERS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 18 September 1930, Page 8

ABSENT VOTERS

ALTERATION OF SYSTEM

EARLY CLOSING OF ROLLS

The possibility of declarations signed by absent, voters being false and of ’detection proving impossible* was emphasised by Air. A. Hamilton, (Ref., Wallace) during, discussion of the Electoral Department estimates in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. He also drew attention to the early closing of the rolls for the Invercargill by-election and asked that some definite rule should be laid down fixing a 1 time for reasonable* notice to* be* given.

~ Referring to declarations* signed by [persons who* vote outside their* electorates, Mr. Hamilton said it was quite possible for anyone to* make a false statement and for his vote to* be accepted as valid. It appeared that the present system was not right. It should be possible to arrange, a system whereby an elector’s vote* cast ‘in absentia” could be made elhalleiigable before it was recognised as valid. The closing of the rolls without much notice* at. Invercargill caused a considerable* amount of apprehension among voters, added Mr. Hamilton, and lie thought it would be wise for the* Minister to fix a certain time* for notification of the ciToisTng, as was apparently being done in connection with the Waipawa by-election, in which case it was intended to give, five days notice. The. Minister in charge of the. department. Hon. H. At more, said it was not possible altogether to exclude the possibility of false declarations by absent voters, but if it were found that* anyone* had been guilty of the offence lie would be prosecuted. In this case his vote would not be valid. Discussing ilio closing of the rolls, the Minister said it was'not so* essential to give long notice now that registration had been made compulsory. Ample provision. had been made for the- giving of notice in the Waipawa electorate, although notice *oif the closing of rolls did not have the sigiificance* it once bad.—‘ ‘The* Dominion. ’ ’