LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 5

LOCAL ELECTIONS.

VERY IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

PARLIAMENTARY STANDARD ADOPTED.

STRICTER REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES.

The Local Elections and Polls Act Amendment Bill is a highly important measure, which brings local elections and polls in many respects into line with parliamentary elections.

It is made an offence, punishable by a fine nob exceeding £2O, to interfere with an elector in or en routo to a polling booth, to print, distribute, or deliver on polling day mock ballot-papers or directions now to vote, or during polling hours to make any public demonstration having reference to the poll by means of living figures, effigies, paintings, placard, or other like means.

A fine not exceeding £SO or three months’ imprisonment may be imposed on anyone who publishes or exposes to public view untrue statements defamatory ■of any candidate and calculated to influence the vote of any elector, after notice has been given of an election and before the close of the poll. Unauthorised interference with voting papers is made punishable by a fine of £SO.

A returning officer or other official connected with a poll is liable to two years’ imprisonment with or without hard labour, and any other person to six months’ imprisonment who forges or counterfeits or fraudulently defaces or destroys a voting paper or the official mark on a voting paper, or in various other ways interferes with voting papers or with the machinery of an election.

Plural voting, frau iulent abstraction cf voting papers, bribery, personation, treating, or undue influence at any election are offences punishable by two years’ imprisonment. The definitions being those of the legislative Act. Infringement of the secrecy of an election on tlie part of officers, clerks, scrutineers, interpreters, or others in attendance at an election is made punishable by six months’ imprisonment with or without hard labour.

The system of nomination is altered to provide that the assent of any person to his nomination may bo signified by letter or telegraph.

The new provisions for recounting pro vide that all rolls after use are to he delivered to the returning officer, who : s to arrange for a scrutiny and comparison of the rolls as soon as practicable. Where it appears that the same person has received a voting paper at two or more polling places his votes are to bo disallowed. Afterwards the returning officer is to make an official count and declare the elected candidates^

A candidate may apply for a recount

within three days of the public declaration of a poll. An application for a recount must be accompanied by a deposit; of £lO. The recount is to take place before a magistrate.