NEW METHOD OF VOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 10

NEW METHOD OF VOTING.

TRANSPORT BOARD ELECTION.

DESIRE FOR ALTERATIONS. Alterations in the method of electing the Transport Board, in an effort to reduce the large number of informal votes cast at the last election, are to be sought by the board, which decided yesterday to attempt to have certain provisions of the Local Elections and Polls Act and the Auckland Transport Board Act amended. The secretary, Mr. W. St. _J. Clarke, stated that at tho last election 18 per cent of the votes cast in the city area, where there were 27 candidates for six seats, were invalid. This was the highest number since the system of voting by a cross was abolished in 1927. He recommended that tho board should obtain an amendment of the Polls Act to permit a local body to decide the method of marking voting papers, as what might suit a small body would not suit a large one. The board adopted the recommendation, and also another that the district should be made one constituency, instead of three constituent districts. Remarking that tho Auckland Electric-Power Board district was one constituency, tho secretary said the change would tend toward smoother working during the election and obviate plural voting, which was difficult to trace. That obtained through ignoranco of the fact that every elector was entitled to only one vote although he was an elector of more than one constituent district. ',.11 The principal polling placo of each local body in the board's area had been made a polling place at which electors could vote irrespective of the constituency _in which they were entitled to voto. He recommended that this provision should be abolisluW. The board agreed fo this step. "A further recommendation that as fivo distinct issues had been placed before electors at city booths during tho municipal elections, and voters faced a considerable task, tho Transport Board election should be held on a separato day was not adopted.