MEDIA RELEASE

Local elections – get voting
Thursday 20 September 2007

Voting papers have been mailed out for the local elections and everyone should take the opportunity to post their votes before midday on Saturday 13 October.

That’s the word from Local Government New Zealand’s Manager Governance, Mike Reid, who says local government and local democracy are fundamental to our society, providing a way for everyone’s voice to be heard.

“Your mayor and council lead your community and represent your views. This is your chance to choose who you want to run your city, town or district.”

Mr Reid says that voting papers have been mailed to all registered voters. Most people will start receiving their papers tomorrow, with all papers expected to be delivered by Wednesday 26 September. People who have not received their papers by then should contact their council’s Electoral Officer.

Voting papers have to be posted by voters no later than Thursday 11 October 5pm or can be hand-delivered to the council up to midday Saturday 13 October.

The voting papers will use both the Single Transferable Voting (STV) and the First Past the Post (FPP) voting systems.

All District Health Board elections will use the STV voting system to elect their members. For these elections, voters are required to rank the candidates they want to vote for in order of preference (ie 1, 2, 3, 4, etc). STV will also be used to elect members of eight councils -- these are:

- Chatham Islands Council

- Dunedin City Council

- Kaipara District Council

- Kapiti Coast District Council

- Marlborough District Council

- Porirua City Council

- Thames-Coromandel District Council

- Wellington City Council

All other councils will be using the First-past-the-post (FPP) system. For the FPP system voters are required to put a tick alongside the candidate/s they wish to vote for.

“Although electoral rolls have now closed, people can still enrol to vote. They will need to request special voting papers from their Electoral Officer and allow enough time for this process.

The last date to enroll is Friday 12 October. Enrolment forms and information are available from councils.

“I would encourage anyone who has not yet registered to do so and cast a special vote. It’s your opportunity to have a say on how your city, town or district is run over the next three years.

“Learn about the challenges facing local councils by visiting www.getmoreinvolved.co.nz and better yet, send it to your friends to increase their awareness of the local elections. This game is a fun way to remind everyone to vote,” says Mr Reid.

Kidsvoting

“This year we will also be targeting young people with a new initiative called Kidsvoting. Kidsvoting gives Year 9 students the opportunity to try an actual voting experience based on their local candidates. This is a joint central and local government project to stimulate interest in the elections and encourage the voting-habit early on,” says Mr Reid.

Kidsvoting has been used successfully in Auckland city since 2000 and this is the first year it will be available nationally.

Statistics from the 2004 local elections

Mr Reid says that statistics from the 2004 elections show that the majority of people vote as soon as they get their papers with another increase in voting paper returns in the last few days before voting cuts off. For the first time since 1989, the average national turnout in 2004 dropped below 50 per cent to 46 per cent.

The highest and lowest turnouts around the country in 2004 were :

Turnout (2004) Highest Lowest
Regional council West Coast (68.1%) Auckland (41.9%)
City council Invercargill (54.8%) North Shore (35.2%)
District council Westland (71.7%) Kawerau (31.6%)
Community board Stewart Island (80.2%) Selwyn Central (29%)
District health boards West Coast (65.8%) Waitemata (36.4%)

For more information on voter turnout in 2004 compared to 2001 see the attached tables from the Department of Internal Affairs, Local Authority Elections Statistics 2004 report. Note that in some cases areas with low turnout in 2004 may have had some seats uncontested.

ENDS

See... Full release with statistics (PDF)

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