Monday August 1 2011.

MMP has given voters more power, not less, and a return to a voting system that concentrates power in a small number of marginal seats would be a mistake, Campaign for MMP said today.

Campaign for MMP spokesperson Sandra Grey said that some voters would look unkindly on the latest round of electoral arrangements, from both sides of politics.

“We know that pulling in one or more MPs on the coat tails of an electorate win if a party hasn’t reached 5% is seen as unfair by some. The electorate deals taking place mostly relate to parties below this threshold.”

But she said going back to First Past the Post or one of its derivatives like Supplementary Member, was too great a risk to take.

“New Zealanders voted to get rid of First Past the Post because they were sick of hundreds of thousands of votes counting for nothing, and because successive governments made significant economic changes without a mandate from voters.”

“It is important we debate the aspects of MMP that irk some people A vote to keep MMP is the quickest way to do this as it locks in a full review of the system.”

“It is easier to make MMP better than to risk going back to a system which lets a party with only 30 or 40 per cent of the vote run the country.”

“New Zealanders voted to bring in MMP because they wanted a real choice based on their vote, rather than the lottery of where they might live in the country.”

“A return to a system that concentrates power in a small number of marginal seats, and takes away the influence of hundreds of thousands of voters is a step too far.”

ENDS

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