AN OBLIGATION.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16427, 26 February 1925, Page 4

AN OBLIGATION.

It is compulsory for every qualified elector to enrol. Cards setting out all the details required are furnished by the Department. These the electors ar e required to procure, fill in the information and forward to the Registrar of Electors for the respective districts. The onus is on the elector to take action, and failure to do so may mean a substantial fine. Applications must be in by March 6, after which date the Registrar may prosecute delinquents. It is emphasised that all must enrol, whether their names have appeared on a former roll or not. The idea is to eliminate the possibility of roll-stuf-fing, and to ensure the compilation of full, clean rolls. It is a matter between the individual elector and the registrar; the onus for enrolment is upon the elector. He may not be compelled to vote at the election, but lie - must see that his name is on the roll. After the details have been forwarded to the registrar the elector will receive a notification that he has been enrolled, and this he is required to keep as evidence that he has discharged the obligation imposed upon him by the Act of last session. The procedure is something entirely new so far as New Zealand is concerned, and inquiries at the Electoral Office have elicited that so far a large percentage of the eleetoi’s have not taken the necessary steps to ensure enrolment. The Postal Department has, as far as possible, distributed the enrolment forms, but any failure on its part to do so will not exonerate the elector for neglecting his duty—he must enrol, and he has less than a fortnight in which to comply with the law. He should act- forthwith.