TO REMOVE DOUBTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 November 1928, Page 5

TO REMOVE DOUBTS

ABSENTEE VOTINU THE SYSTEM EXPLAINED Tiifti'o skill appear;-; to bo some doubt in the- public mind in regard lo Lhe provisions in respect to absentee- voting ;ii, the Uoucral Election. Tlio system is quite simple, and is devised to meet (lie convenience especially of those suburban dwellers who are engaged in the city during the hours of polling, as well as of others who ure unavoidably absent from their electorate on election duv.

The absentee voting system is different from that in operation prior lo 1925. The absentee elector is not required to be. iu possession of an absent voter's permit. All that is necessary is for the absentee elector to apply to a deputy returning officer at any polling place and declare that he will not be" returning to his electorate before the poll closes, and that he is still qualified to have his name retained ou the roll of his district. On application, no will then be supplied with electoral and Licensing voting papers, which must be marked in the usual way and enclosed in an envelope to be forwarded to the. returning officer for the electoral district concerned.

VOTES BY POST Persons who are unable to go to a polling place, provided they have the necessarv qualifications, may make application ill writing to the returning officer of their electoral district so that thev may make use of the postal voting facilities.. The Returning officer will refer the application to the registrar, who will certify if the person is a registered elector. If the person is registered the returning officer will then forward him a postal voting certificate and postal ballot papers. Dae ■elector is required to mark the voting papers ill tile presence of an authorised witness—a registered nurse or doctor, a Justice of the Peace, or a permanent member of the Public Service. Ordinary electors are. not eligible to" witness signatures, nor are candidates and their organisers. The documents must be properly witnessed and forwarded to the returning officer so as lo reach him not later than 7 p.m. on polling day. These facilities will no doubt be of great assistance to invalids and others who are unable by infirmity to visit a polling booth.

DISBANDING OF ELECTION COMMITTEES

Although there is no delinite statutory direction' governing the matter, it is customary for candidates election committees to disband three days before tue date of the General Election, the period within which it is forbidden to influence votes. The reason for disbanding is lest a candidate should be held responsible for members of the committee committing an offence under the Act and tlius rendering him liable to fine or disqualification.