FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 28/4/08

A recently launched website is urging New Zealanders not to vote at the next election.

www.dontvote.co.nz has been launched by Steve Baron the founder of Better Democracy NZ who have been lobbying Parliament for a number of years to make referendums binding.

Mr Baron says “Refusing to vote tells Members of Parliament that you no longer trust them, they no longer represent you and that you no longer believe them.” He says “Voting is no longer a process in which your voice matters.”

“We have been trying for years to convince politicians that it is the ultimate right of New Zealanders to have a say more than just once every three years at a general election but turkeys never vote for Christmas do they?.” says Mr Baron. “We do not and have never had real democracy in this country, it is only one day of democracy and three years of an elected dictatorship. This can only change if we have Binding Referendums like they have in Switzerland.”

Last election approximately 20% of New Zealanders chose not to vote. Some countries like Australia make voting compulsory, but in New Zealand it is only compulsory to be enrolled on the Electoral Roll.

Mr Baron says, “Nonvoting is a gauge of how deeply alienated the average person is from the political establishment. Voting is playing their game. The rules of the game state everyone who votes will also agree to support the one with the most votes even if you can't stand them and or their policies.”

ENDS

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