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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1987
FINES PROPOSED FOR FALSE ELECTIONEERING CLAIMS
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR A CANDIDATE IN AN ELECTION TO MAKE FALSE CLAIMS THAT HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANISATIONS.
UNDER THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WHICH WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), A CANDIDATE WHO MAKES SUCH A FALSE CLAIM IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $500 ON SUMMARY CONVICTION OR A FINE OF $2,000 ON CONVICTION ON INDICTMENT.
PERSONS CONVICTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING REGISTERED AS AN ELECTOR FOR SEVEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF CONVICTION AND FROM CANDIDATURE FOR 10 YEARS.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO PERMIT THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY ΤΟ SPECIFY THE FORM OF ELECTION EXPENSE RETURN AND ACCOMPANYING DECLARATION TO BE LODGED BY CANDIDATES FOLLOWING AN ELECTION.
"THE EXISTING FORM IS CONSIDERED NOT DETAILED ENOUGH; FOR INSTANCE, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IN KIND OR REQUIRE GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE TO CANDIDATES ΤΟ BE IDENTIFIED," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO INTRODUCED SEVERAL CHANGES TO ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS AS PROVIDED UNDER THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (PROCEDURE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1987.
UNDER THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS, DEPOSITS FOR DISTRICT BOARD AND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED FROM $1,000 TO $2,000 AND FROM $1,000 TO $3,000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DEPOSIT WAS STILL RELATIVELY MODEST, AND WOULD BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY TO MAINTAIN THE DETERRENT AGAINST FRIVOLOUS CANDIDATES.
OTHER AREA OF CHANGE INCLUDE:
A).
THE REGISTRATION OFFICER IS EMPOWERED TO VARIATIONS TO POLLING HOURS IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES;
SPECIFY
B).
THE IDENTITY CARD NUMBERS OF ELECTORS WILL BE OMITTED FROM THE CANDIDATES' COPIES OF THE FINAL REGISTER FROM THE ADDRESS LABELS PRODUCED FOR MAILING PURPOSES;
AND
C).
CANDIDATES
THE
D).
THE ADDRESSES OF
WILL BE OMITTED FROM BALLOT PAPERS UNLESS THE REGISTRATION OFFICER OTHERWISE REQUIRES.
THE AUTHORITY TO ADMIT PUBLIC OFFICERS INTO POLLING STATIONS IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH (A POST WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS) ΤΟ THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY.
DI. A TIDIER METHOD OF COUNTING VOTES IS INTRODUCED
CONSTITUENCIES WHERE THERE IS MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE.
IN
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