Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am going to vote in favour of the amendment. I believe strongly that a candidate, in and of themselves, is the biggest advertising that they can do. We don’t allow advertising in the polling station, and when a candidate is present in a polling station, even though they are not wearing a button or any other propaganda, they, by virtue of being in the polling station, are advertising their election and there is something about that that doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t believe that a candidate has any place in a polling station other than to vote and I think that it has to be crystal clear, and I think that if we left “and for brief visits during the day” in there, that’s open to interpretation and I don’t think the Chief Electoral Officer has to interpret whether it’s five minutes, 15 minutes or 20 minutes or whether somebody’s candidate is hanging out in the foyer, shaking hands of people in their way in or on their way out. So I am glad the amendment is there and I am going to vote in favour of it. Thank you.
David Ramsay on Committee Motion Amendment To Rules And Procedures Report 4-16(3): Attendance Of Candidate At Polling Station, Carried
In the Legislative Assembly on May 28th, 2009. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion Amendment To Rules And Procedures Report 4-16(3): Attendance Of Candidate At Polling Station, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
May 27th, 2009
See context to find out what was said next.