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MDHIAN 2143
DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER,
I.E. ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE ELECTIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS
AND ONE YEAR BEFORE THOSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
AGES OF ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE AND ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE
69.
THERE WAS MUCH PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE ISSUE OF THE VOTING AGE
AND A CLEAR MAJORITY OF OPINION FROM ALL SOURCES CONSIDERED THAT
IT SHOULD REMAIN AT 21 YEARS. MANY PEOPLE FELT THAT MORE CIVIC
EDUCATION WAS NEEDED BEFORE PEOPLE BELOW THAT AGE WOULD BE READY FOR
THE VOTE. THERE WAS LITTLE INTEREST IN THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR
CANDIDATURE: BUT MOST OF THOSE WHO COMMENTED BELIEVED THAT THIS TOO
SHOULD REMAIN AT 21 YEARS.
70.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO CHANGE EITHER THE VOTING AGE
OR THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE. IT HAS, SINCE THE 1984 WHITE PAPER, STEPPED UP ITS ENCOURAGEMENT OF CIVIC EDUCATION
BOTH IN SCHOOLS AND OUTSIDE. IT 1985 IT SET UP A COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR. COMMUNITY INTEREST IN CIVIC AFFAIRS IS DEVELOPING AND
MAY BE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FURTHER THROUGH THESE EFFORTS.
VOTING SYSTEMS FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS
71
•
CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE VOTING SYSTEMS IS A COMPLEX
SUBJECT, ON WHICH THERE WAS A LIMITED PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER. THOSE WHO DID COMMENT GENERALLY FAVOURED THE ADOPTION OF
PREFERENTIAL ELIMINATION VOTING SYSTEM FOR BOTH FUNCTIONAL
CONSTITUENCY AND ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A
72. AS EXPLAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER, THIS SYSTEM HAS ADVANTAGES
OVER THE PREFERENTIAL ADDITION ✰ SYSTEM USED IN THE 1985
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS, BECAUSE IT GIVES GREATER WEIGHT
TO HIGHER PREFERENCES THAN TO LOWER ONES AND DOES NOT CARRY THE RISK
THAT THE CANDIDATE WITH THE FEWEST FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES MIGHT
NEVERTHELESS WIN THE ELECTION. IT ALSO HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE
REPEATED BALLOT SYSTEM USED IN THE 1985 ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTIONS
IN THAT IT INVOLVES ONLY ONE ROUND OF VOTING. THE PREFERENTIAL
ELIMINATION SYSTEM WILL THEREFORE BE ADOPTED IN THE 1988
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS FOR BOTH THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. DETAILS OF THE SYSTEM ARE AT APPENDIX
C.
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