COMPULSORY VOTING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 October 1926, Page 5

COMPULSORY VOTING

HIGH COURT RULTNG (By Eleotrio Telegraph -Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received 12th Oct, 11.55 run) MELBOURNE, This Day The High Court gave an important decision in connection with the question of compulsory voting at parliamentary elections. E. J. Judd was fined 10/- for failing to vote; ■ Judd appealed to the Supreme Court on the grounds (hat. failure to vote- where only political opponents of an' elector are candidates was not an offence under the Electoral Act, and if an elector Tie bound to voto lor candidates.'who. did not. represent his views,'lhe Ail was ultra vires. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal. Judd (hen appealed 'to (he High Court-, winch by a majority of 4 (o 1 upheld the conviction. Judge lliggins. dissenting, held that-'in"his opinion if an abstention from voting were part of an elector's religious dnty, as it. appeared to the mind of Judd; .that would establish a. valid and sufficient reason for not voting, -lie disagreed 'entirely with the view that courts are to say what political opinion or social views'are to be treated as: reasonable.