PARTY “TICKETS”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 237, 8 May 1933, Page 5

PARTY “TICKETS”

Question of Legality USES AT POLLING PLACES Christchurch, May 6. The question whether it is strictly legal for printed lists of candidates to be distributed to electors as they enter polling places has been raised by a newspaper correspondent. This practice has been adopted for some years both at Parliamentary and at local elections, and although there is no record of prosecutions having been made, it is doubtful whether it docs not actually constitute a breach of the regulations laid down in the Local Elections and Polls Act, 1925. Signing himself “Voter,” the correspondent has written as follows to the editor of the Press: “On my arrival at the entrance to the polling booth I was Immediately handed a list of certain candidates, and when I went into the cubicle to record ray vote I found many similar lists which had evidently been placed theicr to catch the voter’s eye and influence him in his selection. My friends relate the same experience, sc tho method seems to have been deliberate.

“There was a large pile of these lists on the table outside the booth, and the attendant no doubt made good use of them during the course of the day. What I wish to ascertain is if this sort of thing is legal or if it in any way infringes the rules in connection with the secrecy of the ballot. The practice, on the face of it, is apparently harmless, but in my opinion perfectly illegal, and one that should bo entirely suppressed.” The returning officer, Mr. J, S. Neville, states that the lists found inside the cubicle must have been left there by previous electors. There was no suggestion of party supporters being allowed to post up lists in the cubicles where voting took place. On the legality of the distribution of tickets outside the booths Mr. Neville, without expressing an opinion quoted the following clause of the’ Local Elections and Polls Act, 1925: “Every person is liable to a fine not. exceeding £2O who at an election: “(a) In any way interferes with any elector, either in the polling booth or while on his way thereto, with the intention of influencing or advising him as to his vote; or “(b) Prints or distributes or delivers to any person on the day of the poll or at any time during the three days immediately preceding the poll anything being or purporting to be an imitation of any voting paper to be used at the poll and having thereon the names of the candidates, or any of them, together with any direction or indication as to how any person should vote, or in any way containing such direction or indication, or having thereon any matter likely to influence any vote; or

“(c) During the hours in which the poll is being taken makes any public demonstration having reference to the poll by means of living figures, effigies, paintings, placards, or other like means,”