45Printing of ballot-papers

45 Printing of ballot-papers

45 Printing of ballot-papers

(1) As soon as practicable after the close of enrolments in an election, the returning officer—

(a) must determine the order in which the candidates’ names are to be listed on a ballot-paper by means of a ballot held in accordance with the procedure provided by section 82A of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912, and

(b) must cause sufficient ballot-papers to be printed to enable a ballot-paper to be sent to each person included in the final roll for the election, and

(c) if a candidate information sheet has been drawn up, must cause sufficient copies to be printed so that a copy may be sent to each person included in that roll.

(2) A ballot-paper for an election must contain—

(a) the names of the candidates arranged in the order determined in accordance with subclause (1) (a), with a small square set opposite each name, and

(b) if the returning officer considers that the names of 2 or more of the candidates are so similar as to cause confusion, such other matter as the returning officer considers will distinguish between the candidates, and

(c) such directions as to the manner in which a vote is to be recorded and returned to the returning officer as the returning officer considers appropriate.

(3) In the case of an election where votes are to be counted as provided by Part 2 of the Sixth Schedule, or Part 2 of the Seventh Schedule, to the Constitution Act 1902, the directions to voters must include a direction that—

(a) the voter must record a vote for at least the number of candidates to be elected by placing consecutive numbers (beginning with the number “1” and ending with the number equal to the number of candidates to be elected) in the squares set opposite the candidates’ names in the order of the voter’s preferences for them, and

(b) the voter may, but is not required to, vote for additional candidates by placing consecutive numbers (beginning with the number next higher than the number of candidates to be elected) in the square set opposite the candidates’ names in the order of the voter’s preferences for them.