Move to a nationally consistent system of in-person voting for all local elections that is as similar as possible to parliamentary elections over a two-week timeframe in which to vote, with polling booths in venues where people frequently visit. Preferably by the 2028 local elections or the 2031 local elections at the latest.
If you really want to boost turnout, then I would allow all three methods of voting – postal, in booths and online. Postal is dying, and in booths did not do well in the days before postal.
If we do not shift away from postal voting in 2028, then the Local Electoral Act should be amended to enable overseas voters to use the same electronic voting approach as central government elections, and make it easier for voters to have voting papers reissued if they do not arrive.
Not just for overseas voters. Everyone should be able to access this.
The Government should amend the Electoral Act and Local Electoral Act to put the Electoral Commission in charge of administering and promoting local elections.
Strongly agree, and well overdue.
Local government and central government should move to a four-year term with elections spaced two years apart.
Also a strong agree. If in 2026 people vote for a four year term, then presumably central government elections would be 2029, 2033, 2037 etc. You could then have local elections in 2025, 2028, 2031, 2035, 2039.
The Local Government Act should be amended to strengthen the Code of Conduct process by Empowering the Local Government Commission to investigate complaints relating to significant breaches
I disagree with this one. It would change the nature of the LGC dramatically and politicise it.
Overall some good food for thought, and hopefully the Government adopts many of them.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
4 comments:
Why not just follow the Wellington City system which has produced a succession of excellent mayors and highly efficient Councils?
I would rather see General and Local Body elections being held simultaneously. Four years, yes. We would then be able to get everyone, almost everyone, interested in local and national affairs. Polls could be open on Saturday and Sunday to spread the load. Many European countries vote on Sundays. Also would like to have No Postal voting, No Online voting.
He-he. If that is efficient, give me effective over efficiency any old day.
Peter Drucker famously said: "Efficiency is doing things right". He also said: "Effectiveness is doing the right things". I'd go further and say there is a chronology to all this. One cannot be efficient without first becoming effective because there is absolutely nothing to be gained from doing the wrong things well. Oh, I just defined the left in NZ in a nutshell ...
I do not trust postal voting, especially with the wards referendum coming up. Too easy for interference in the postal system _ checking, non-delivery and dumping _ and on receipt of the papers. Online voting could be at risk of interference, hacking and manipulation. If you can't be bothered to get out and vote at some point over a preceding few weeks there is something amiss. There are also services provided to help those with mobility issues or confined to homes. Am I really suggesting I do not trust some postal workers (I recall the refusal to deliver material the union opposed in Wellington) or whoever receives and counts postal votes? Yes.
I still expect a rigorous campaign to disrupt the ward referendum but the papers for that will probably be included with the council voting papers.
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