The Editor, Sir:

My auditory agents today are straying more closely to the precincts of validity than they did in yesteryear. This is why I question an occurrence in their magisterial counting in Eastern Hanover. The ballots without the presiding officer's signature should not have been rejected - they are the only valid ones.

Let us presume that a certain PO is a male: He folds the ballots, affix is signature to the flap and hands it to the voter and it is returned. He tears off the flap. His signature was solely to prove that the ballot he gave was the one returned.

A corrupt PO (if there is one such) wanting to know for whom a particular elector voted could 'innocently' add or subtract to or from his signature and in counting would be silently but unequivocally given the information sought if his signature were retained on the ballot.

No mark apart from the electors vote can be on a valid ballot within the box.

I am, etc.,

Col. C.L.G. HARRIS L.L.D.