26 January 2016

A new campaign to increase voter turnout at the 2016 Local Authority Elections

Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ’s) new #Vote16NZ campaign encourages more Kiwis to get involved in the Local Authority Elections this October.

Local Authority Election turnout has been declining in many areas of New Zealand since the 1980s. LGNZ’s ten-month #Vote16NZ campaign, running until the 8 October polling date, aims to lift voter numbers above 50 per cent nationally for the first time since 1998.

The campaign also encourages citizens with strong leadership qualities and a passion for their community to consider standing as candidates themselves.

The #Vote16NZ campaign is based on domestic and international research about who is voting, who isn’t voting, why they aren’t voting and what will influence them to vote. Measures to build elector turnout will include a strong focus on younger voters.

LGNZ President Lawrence Yule says local body voter turnout varies significantly across different age groups and geographic areas. LGNZ survey results have shown:

• The total national voter turnout for the 2013 election was 41.3 per cent.

• The highest voter turnout in 2010 was in the 70-plus age group (89 per cent) and lowest was in the 18-29 age group (34 per cent).

• Overall, metro and rural areas saw a five per cent decline in turn out between 2010 and 2013 while provincial electorates saw a three per cent decline.

• The main reasons people give for not voting is not knowing enough about the candidates (31 per cent), ‘forgot or left too late’ (24 per cent), ‘not interested’ or ‘too busy’ (each 14 per cent).

• A number of areas successfully lifted voting turnout in 2013. The biggest rise was Southland District (seven per cent). The biggest drop was Hurunui District (24 per cent).

• Wellington was the only Metro district to lift voter numbers in 2013 (two per cent). Auckland saw the largest drop (15 per cent).

New Zealand’s local body voter turnout is lower than a number of OECD countries with similar forms of government, including Ireland, Denmark and Norway – but it is still higher than Australia, England or Canada.

Mr Yule says in order to improve these statistics, the first step is to raise public awareness of the value of local government and the role it plays in the everyday lives of New Zealanders.
“Our aim is to grow citizens’ understanding of the breadth of services delivered each day by local governments across New Zealand, and the impact those services have on their everyday lives. By making that connection, we hope it inspires Kiwis to take a more proactive stance on the issues they care about in their communities,” says Mr Yule.

“Citizens can get involved by voting for their preferred candidate this October, and maybe even deciding to stand as a candidate themselves,” says Mr Yule.

Mr Yule says creating a larger pool of skilled candidates is another key step to improving local democracy and ensuring the value local government delivers to its communities remains high.

“Local government in New Zealand faces major challenges, from environmental issues to major infrastructure replacement, often in the face of demographic change. We need to ensure elected representatives have the abilities, training and diversity of skills to rise to these challenges,” says Mr Yule.

“Ultimately, how well local government performs impacts on how well communities and citizens prosper and succeed both now and into the future,” said Mr Yule.

Mr Yule said successful candidates would be provided with significant support. LGNZ provides elected members and council staff with governance training and guidance through its
EquiP professional development programme designed builds a consistent level of capability across the sector. EquiP partners with The Institute of Directors to deliver this service.

Mr Yule says the final step is ensuring voters have access to the information they need about candidates standing in their community and about the voting process, including when, where and how they can vote. This includes working with central government to implement an online voting option, among other initiatives. Eight councils are set to take part in an online voting trial for the Local Authority Elections this October.

“The research shows us there is a significant number of citizens who are interested in the process but don’t vote, or, who want to vote but say it’s too hard to find the information they need to make an informed decision. The #Vote16NZ campaign will address these issues,” said Mr Yule.

“In some cities, and for some citizens, the availability of an online voting option may increase the number of people who take part in local body elections,” said Mr Yule.

Mr Yule urges New Zealanders to find out more about what their local council is doing in their own community and how they can get involved and have their say in how to shape it.

“Democracy is both a privilege and a responsibility. By participating in the local government process and casting your vote you help ensure it rests on the right shoulders. Our goal is that, for the first time in nearly two decades, local government will be elected by a majority of New Zealanders,” said Mr Yule.

ENDS

The 2016 Local Authority Elections – Journalists’ Factsheet
The 2016 Local Authority Elections take place in October this year.
All votes are conducted by post and must be received by 12 noon onSaturday 8 October 2016 (election day).
Voting documents will be sent to all eligible voters by post allowing all voters three weeks to complete and return their voting documents.
Local Authority Election key dates

About the Local Authority Elections
Local Authority Elections are held every three years on the second Saturday in October and all are conducted by postal vote with a possible online voting option in the following eight councils:
• Masterton District Council;
• Matamata Piako District Council;
• Palmerston North City Council;
• Porirua City Council;
• Rotorua Lakes Council;
• Selwyn District Council;
• Wellington City Council, and
• Wanganui District Council.
The online voting trial will be confirmed by central government in the coming months.
Local authority elections are conducted under the provisions of:
• The Local Electoral Act 2001
• The Local Electoral Regulations 2001
• The Local Government Act 2002
• The New Zealand Public Health & Disability Act 2000 and their amendments.
Each election is run by an electoral officer. This person is often a council employee, although many local authorities now use specialised contractors to run their elections. Electoral officers are independent statutory officers for the period of the election. During this time they do not take instruction from either their council or its senior management.

Sitting elected members, and anyone standing for election, cannot be an electoral officer.

Preliminary results are announced by the electoral officer as soon as possible after voting closes with official results following within a few days. Once available, the electoral officer will provide final election results via the council’s website.

Successful candidates take office the day after the official declaration is publicly notified.

Local Authority Elections spending
There are limits to the amount of money candidates can spend on their election campaigns, which include donations and joint campaigning. The maximum amount spent must not exceed the limits set out below. Please note that the amounts are GST inclusive.

If a candidate is standing for more than one position, such as mayor and councillor, the higher limit applies (not a combination of both.)

First Past the Post (FPP) and Single Transferable Voting (STV) voting systems
Councils have the choice of two voting systems, First Past the Post (FPP) or Single Transferable Voting (STV). Citizens can also request, through a petition, their council hold a poll on changing the voting system, to either FPP or STV.

Most council elections are conducted using the ‘First Past the Post’ system (FPP). This means the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. This year, seven councils, in addition to all 21 district health boards, will use the Single Transferable Voting system (STV).

Councils using the STV system in 2016 are:

For more information about the STV system and how it works please visit the DIA website: http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.NSF/wpg_URL/Resource-material-STV-Information-Index?OpenDocument

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