Cheating suspected in NZ flag poll

Some New Zealanders were allegedly voting more than once in the poll on whether to change the national flag, the Electoral Commission said.

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Wellington - Some New Zealanders were allegedly voting more than once in the poll on whether to change the national flag, the Electoral Commission said on Wednesday.

One man bragged on Facebook that he had collected almost 300 voting papers from his neighbours and friends and used the papers to vote for a change to the new design, Radio New Zealand reported.

The commission had asked police to investigate at least four people who said on social media that they used or intended to use other people’s ballots.

The offence carries up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 40 000 New Zealand dollars (27 000 US dollars).

The vote is between the current flag, which features the four stars of the Southern Cross and the British Union Jack on a navy blue background, and a new design featuring a silver fern and no Union Jack, which some see as a throwback to British colonialism.

Preliminary results of the vote are expected on March 24.

DPA