MEDIA RELEASE

Kids have their say in local body elections
 

Tuesday 21 September 2010
 

Over 22,000 students will vote in mock local body elections, learning more about the electoral process through Kids Voting.

Kids Voting is supported by 51 councils and 138 primary and secondary schools across the country.  Students use replica ballot papers to vote for real candidates and get to compare their results with those in the official local body elections. 

Local Government New Zealand governance manager Mike Reid says the programme is designed to raise awareness of New Zealand's electoral processes among young people. 

“In New Zealand, as in most developed democracies, voter turnout in local government elections is falling.  Research shows building first-hand experience at an early age increases understanding, belief and confidence in electoral participation,” said Mr Reid.

“Kids Voting aims to raise awareness and increase interest in young people so when they turn 18 they are more able to understand and appreciate the importance of democracy and voting.”

Like the real elections, kids taking part in the programme are able to cast their vote right up until elections close at noon on Saturday 9 October.  All voting is confidential and the votes are placed in a sealed electoral box.  After the elections close votes are counted and results fed back to LGNZ.

Kids Voting was introduced by Auckland City Council in 2001 and adopted nationally in 2007.  The programme runs to a three year cycle offering children the opportunity to vote in a local body election one year, a general election the next, and learn more about governance and electoral issues in the non-election year.

Kids Voting is co-ordinated by LGNZ and supported by central and local government agencies.

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