VPRS 15465 Voters Rolls (GRS 1241)

Voters Rolls were created annually from voters lists made of eligible ratepayers, who were reviewed and certified, as being entitled to vote at a municipal election.Voters Rolls and lists were known under various titles, including Ratepayers Rolls and lists c1854, Burgess Rolls and lists c1860's, Citizens Rolls and lists and later (from around 1939) Voters Lists and Rolls.This series may comprise of both rolls and lists. For some years rolls may not be extant, and lists have been included, or the lists may be included in a single bound volume. Voters on the final roll were allocated a consecutively running roll number whereas persons on lists are generally unnumbered, although their rate number may be included.Information contained in the roll generally includes:Number on RollSurname in FullChristian or other names in fullResidence and post town or post officeNature of calling or occupationOwner or occupierSituation or other description of rateable propertyYearly value of rateable propertyDescription and situation of rateable propertyYearly value of rateable propertyNumber of votesRecord Keeping SystemVoters' rolls were arranged alphabetically by the surname and given name of the ratepayer within each municipal year.Municipalities were required to compile voters' lists, separate voters lists (of ineligible voters), comprising of the names of all rateable persons. Voters' lists were then made available for public inspection and objections (for inclusions, exclusions or amendments) could be lodged.Objections were then reviewed in an open Revision Court. Where alterations to the list were made, the chairman of the court initialled them. After revision, each page was to be initialled at the foot of the page by the chair, and the final list was certified by the chair and two members of the court as being correct at the date of revision.The municipal clerk transcribed the lists into a bound volume as the final voters roll or book of eligible voters. Entries were made in alphabetical order by surname. Each eligible ratepayer was allocated a prefix number (or voter's number on the roll). The prefix number started from the first entry on the roll being number one, and then ran consecutively to the last name, although in some early rolls, the prefix number comprised of the voters number in the rate books. The prefix number was part of the description of the voter, and voters could not receive more than one voter's number.The roll was delivered to the Chairman and was the final Voters Roll for the municipality which was then signed and certified. The roll was conclusive as to the persons entitled to vote, and a voter's qualification on the roll could not be disputed when he claimed to vote at a municipal election. No alterations could then be made until a new roll was made the following year.Eligibility for inclusion on the roll varied over time and was dependant on the a variety of criteria. Inclusion or exclusion was assessed by value of property, age (over 21 years), sex (exclusion of females) and nationality of the ratepayer, (whether the person was an immigrant or a natural born or naturalized subject), and prior to 1958 whether rates were in arrears.Further research is required to trace all the changes in legislation related to the eligibility for citizens over the years.