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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3123, 14 February 1871, Page 2

The necessiiy for the number in the ballot paper will appear by reference to the telegram in our columns about the Motueka election. It appears after all that there is a tie, and that there is every probabili'y that a scrutiny will be demanded. The number on the voting paper renders this possible, as we have explained, without violating the secresy of the ballot. Without a number, the greatest scope would be given to personation and double or rather multiple voting. " Poll early and often" would be the cry as in America. "We are glad that by the amendments made in the Upper House the colony will be saved (he scenes that still disgrace elections in the United States. Receiving the ballot paper from the hand of the Re turning Officer or his deputy and getting it marked preclude the possibility of many irregularities. The following quotations from, the " New York Herald," dated Bth November, 1870, tell their own talo : — " Look out for tbe paste tickets ! No doubt many democrats are likely to be deceived by a resemblance to the regular democratic tickets, with the names of opposing candidates pasted over those of the regular. Look out for them." "We must not forget that an element altogether new in State elections, and which possibly myy result in disorder, has been introduced between the voter and his right to exercise his privilege as a citizen. We mean the late law of Congress, which tor the first time in the history of the country stands like a gaunt spectre at the polls of a State election, challenging through its active agents, who, we are sorry to say, comprise a gang of the worst ruffians, black aud white, which the community can supply — challenging the vote of every citizen, whether his vote be honest or otherwise, at the will of these marshals. "Be careful ! take your tickets only from those you know to be reliable men." '' M'Lauchland and Schroeder, two convicted repeaters, were sentenced yesterday by Judge Woodruff. M'Laughlin was given two years in the state prison, and Schroeder, on account of his evident ignorance of the full criminality of the act, and his helpless wife and child, who were in Court, was given only six months." We might multiply extracts from this one issue ad nauseam. The advantage of the provisions of the Kegul ation of Elections Act" now in force can only be appreciated by learning the evils resulting from voting by ballot according to other modes. The great superiority of the New Zealand act consists in furnishing a ready means of detecting fraudulent voting, an easy method of expunging unjust votes and a certainty of securing that the candidate who has legitimately polled the highest number, is elected. In close contests during the present elections such as those of Selwyn 102—101, and Motueka 193— 193, this becomes a matter of very great importance. On the whole, we see no occasion for altering the Act in any important particular. It ensures the most absolute secresy to the- honest voter, the detection of all fraud, and the rectification of all its consequences.