Porirua Mayor Rapt Report Supports Online Voting

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett is rapt a report released yesterday has found that e-voting is a good option for Local Government elections.

Mayor Leggett was a member of the Department of Internal Affairs Online Voting Working Party that prepared the report Online Voting in New Zealand – Feasibility and options for local elections.

"I’m very happy with the report’s findings. Recent data shows that 92 per cent of New Zealanders are connected online and that’s where they expect to do business.

“Porirua is a young city with a high proportion of voters who relate to online communities so we need to cater to them and future generations to allow them to engage with democracy on their terms.The internet is an integral part of young people’s lives and if we want them to vote we need to make the process quicker and easier.”

Porirua City Council has been a driving force to make e-voting a part of the democratic process and is keen to trial the system in 2016.

Mayor Leggett says Porirua’s involvement in the online Gigatown competition is a great example of how communities participate in that space. Porirua is now in the top five towns heading toward the finals of the Chorus run competition.

“Our community has been furious in their online support for Gigatown and I have no doubt that they will also be more active in democracy when e-voting becomes an option. They have proven they are ready and willing to engage online.”

The report can be read online at: www.dia.govt.nz/online-voting.

ENDS

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