BOROUGH ELECTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20464, 2 April 1938, Page 6

BOROUGH ELECTIONS

INFORMATION FOR VOTERS QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED INCREASE OF 1000 IN MAIN ROLL . Though the privilege of voting in the municipal elections in May is based upon the same fundamental principles as that governing the national franchise, namely, universal adult suffrage,, there are certain supplementary qualifications for the municipal vote which, as each election year comes round, tend to, cause confusion to some voters. In order, as far as possible, to ob* viate such confusion the four distinct grounds of qualification for the municipal elector are set opt below as simply as possible. In the first place, every British subject of 21 or over (man or woman), British by birth or naturalisation In New Zealand, having lived one year In the Dominion and three months In the borough area, is entitled to vote and should make sure that hie or her name Is on the main or supplementary rolls. Again, a few electors gain theii franchise by the freehold qualification. Any person who is the registered owner of the freehold of a property of not less than £25 capital value may vote by virtue of that owner* ship, whether or not the property is occupied under any tenancy. No Additional Qualification Thirdly, any person whose name appears in the valuation roll as the occupier of any rateable property within the borough may vote by \irtue of his or her rating qualification. Last, where a person is, and has for the previous three months at least, been in occupation of premises within the borough area, as tenant or subtenant, he or she may vote on such occupier’s qualification. With regard to the last three classes It should particularly be noted that no additional residential qualification la required of such voters and that they need not be British subjects. Further, a freehold, rating or occupier’s qualification held by a husband extends to hla wife, and vice versa. The main electoral roll for Hamilton Borough, which closed on January 31, this year bears 8228 names, compared with 7220 at t,he time of the 1935 elections, an increase of 1008, while up to yesterday 550 names had been placed on the supplementary roll. It Is anticipated that a substantial number of names will be added to the supplementary roll during the ensuing week, and it is probable that by the time the roll closes on April 13 it will bear approximately the same number of names as at last election, when it listed 2227.