ELECTORAL LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 8

ELECTORAL LAW

WARTIME PROVISIONS VOTING BY SOLDIERS (S.E.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Additions to the Electoral Act, 1927, of a nature required for a general election held in wartime are included in the Statutes Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the House of Representatives late to-night. The bill, which contains 77 clauses, was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Minister in charge of the bill, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said it was the usual miscellaneous measure. Most of the amendments were minor ones, and he considered there was nothing tremendously revolutionary or contentious in the bill. 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 approval by the general electoral officer. 1 here are also extended provisions for postal voting. An amendment will enable persons who, because of their religion, are precluded from voting 'on a Saturday, to use the postal voting system, and will also allow the general electoral officer to deal with any unusual situation. A third clause applies to Maoris, the 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 bv members of the forces 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 Now Zealand waters, and enables their votes to he taken in the same way as chose of members of the iorces overseas.