Local government elections heading for an all-time low voter turnout

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

The signs were not good as the 2019 Auckland Council election loomed

Voter turnout for this Saturday's local elections is heading for a record low, with an official saying online voting must be brought in to halt the decline.

Electionsnz.com chief returning officer Warwick Lampp said turnout had been trending down for some time.

He said based on current estimates, turnout this election was likely to be at an all-time low.

Tuesday, October 8 is the last day to get voting papers in the mail, otherwise they'll have to be delivered by hand to each area's nominated electoral returns point.

In 2016, turnout was 42 per cent, but Mr Lampp said this time it was unlikely to get above 40 per cent.

Lampp said online voting was critical to halt that decline.

'[It's time] for central and local government to get their heads together and nut out an online voting system.

'The impetus is there, the desire is there - people are wanting it - and I think we just need to get our heads together and get it sorted.'

A group of councils had tried to get a trial of online voting up and running for this election, but were forced to drop it late last year due to the cost.

Group spokesperson Marguerite Delbet said they hadn't given up hope.

They were eying the 2022 elections, and wanted the government to partner with them to make it happen.

'The first thing is to get the regulations in place. We've got legislation [in place but not] the regulations, and some clear parameters for whether we can trial online voting for any byelections that might happen between 2019 and 2022.

'And whether the government is ready to come to the party to help financially.'

A Department of Internal Affairs spokesperson said the Justice Select Committee was considering public submissions it received on its inquiry into the 2017 general election and the 2016 local government elections, and would make recommendations in due course.

Today is the last day of postal voting but people can drop their ballot paper at council service centres, libraries and community centres until midday on Saturday.