I couple of weeks ago we got a leaflet in our letterbox arguing for limiting eligibility to vote to citizens, on the assumption this would limit it to the people affected by government decisions. I decided to respond as an open letter, to add my thoughts to the public conversation on election rules, and who potentially benefits from changing them;
https://strypey.dreamwidth.org/8279.html
#elections #NZPolitics #ElectionsNZ #PolicyNZ #ElectionRules
"We already have an offence of knowingly publishing false statements with the intention to influence voters. Currently it’s an offence in the two days leading up to voting and on election day, however around 70 per cent of New Zealanders are voting ahead of polling day."
#DeborahHart, Chair, Independent Electoral Review Panel, 2023
So the other 1093 days of election cycles, politicians can knowingly publish false statements to influence voters.
Imagine all postelection coalition negotiations had to be multilateral. Including representatives from every party with MPs, and any independents, rather than the two largest parties negotiating separately.
Could this lead to a more cooperative approach to governing? Because the coalition deal itself had multi-party oversight and input.
Why can't we run local body elections like we ran the last census? With teams going house to house during the voting period, first to drop off ballots, then to collect them. We could even have them going around earlier in the election year, getting people enrolled, and making sure they understand how to vote.
What would that cost, compared to what we currently pay NZ Post to deliver ballots?
Strypey