VOTING BY CROSS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 3

VOTING BY CROSS.

Small Percentage of Informals. SYSTEM PREFERRED. In the opinion of the Substitute Returning Officer (Mr Albert Freeman), voting by means of a cross is the best method at municipal elections. Reporting to the City Council at its meeting last night on the recent elections, Mr Freeman drew particular attention to the small number of informal votes cast under the cross system as comP a ted with elections held under the striking-out system of voting. The grand total of voting papers issued was 165,030, as compared with 11/./80 for the 1933 elections, reported Mr Freeman. The total number of votes cast was a record for the city and greater than the previous record (1931) by 7000 votes on each issue. The percentages of informal votes were as follows :

Air Freeman also presented the following statement of the number of votes, and the system under which they were cast for the councillors’ issue only and the percentage of informal votes: In-

1935. 1933. issue. Per cent. Per cent Mayor 53 1.78 Councillors 1 65 45 Hospital Board 1.58 4.25 Harbour Board 2 4 54

Votes formal. System. cast. p c. PR 17,476 4.6 1919 Ward. first past post, choice marked by X 1 2,937 2 7 1321 P.Fh 14,685 7.1 1923 P.ll 19,099 S 192«* First past post, whole electorate (choice marked by X) 22,915 2 1927 First past post, whole electorate (strike out names) 28,149 17 7 1929 P.H 30,953 4.7 1931 P.R 32,556 5.2 1333 P.R 29,456 4.5 1935 First past post, whole electorate (choic marked by X) 39,S 9 S 1.65