Plural, Voting.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20614, 15 May 1935, Page 6

Plural, Voting.

One Man Can Exercise Unlimited Number. J>LURAL VOTING at municipal elections is permitted by law and there is no limit to the number of votes one man can exercise if he represents a ratepaying company for each vote. In addition t*o these votes, he is not deprived of his personal vote as either a ratepayer or an occupier. This question was raised by a correspondent who asked if there was any limit to the number of votes which might be made under these provisions. The vote on behalf of a company can be made if a person is nominated on the valuation roll as the A-oter on behalf of the company. When this is done, the name of the voter goes automatically on the district electors’ list. If only the name of the firm appears on the list, the vote may be cast on an authority given under the seal of the firm.

When a vote is claimed on the grounds that rates are paid on a city property, only one person can vote for that property, but in the case of a partnership paying rent 5n excess of £lO a year, each partner is entitled to be enrolled as an occupier. A wife has the same rights as her husband, whether he be occupier or ratepayer, and where the occupier actually lives outside the city but has a claim for enrolment because of his partnership qualification, his wife can also be enrolled.

No person can vote as an occupier in addition to his right to vote either on a ratepayer’s or residential qualification. The correspondent also asks for an explanation as to whether the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) and Sir Hugh Acland could have been nominated for both the Mayoralty , and the council. This is permissible and, in the event of one candidate being elected to both offices, the returning officer is instructed by the Municipal Corporations Act to deem the candidate to have been elected as Mayor and to appoint the highest unsuccessful candidate ts> the vacant council seat. This is what would have happened in Auckland had Mr Savegh been elected Mayor as well as a councillor.