Why it’s a treat to vote

My son has a special treat for his birthday this year: he gets to vote in the local body elections. Now I know this not a treat coveted by many young people; in fact it’s not coveted by many people at all, as voting turnout in local government elections is appallingly low.

It seems that issues like the state of our roads, footpaths, water reticulation, sewerage and rubbish collection aren’t enough to get our adrenalin pumping.

And not enough of us really care about our parks, recreational facilities or even how our towns and cities are being planned for the future.

Strange, because these are the things that have an impact on our day-to-day lives.

Voter turnout in local authority elections has been declining for 28 years. In the last elections only 43 per cent voted.

That’s almost half of the almost 80 per cent who turned out for the last general election.

Voter turnout does rise as we get older, but I’d like our youngies to think for a moment before diverting their eyes away from those faces on the billboards. They’re the ones who will be making decisions about your future.

And why that is more important than ever is this: those people and the staff who serve under them are already pondering ginormous decisions about how to manage our environment, flood control, and the quality of our air and water.

Last time I looked students were protesting about climate change inaction. Now’s the time when individually and collectively you can make a difference to how we manage or mismanage our future.

It’s the people around those boardroom tables and council chambers who are deciding whether they are even going to bother to try to manage our precious New Zealand coastline.

They will be deciding if that beach you made sandcastles on and the park you played in will even exist for the family you may or may not choose to have in the future.

They’ll also be the ones considering affordable housing which may determine if you own a house or not.

Now I know from the research that you feel despondent about the inability to make a difference but, in my view, more than central government elections, you really can make change in the place you grew up in or live.

And cast a thought for other countries where women, minorities or the whole population can’t vote and thank your lucky stars that at least your ancestors enabled the democratic right you have been failing to exercise.

It doesn’t take huge numbers to vote in a councillor. In a medium-sized region, a candidate will make it on to a ward with about 700 votes. So, with a decent-sized family and a large bunch of friends actively spreading the word, your candidate could be in.

More than that, unlike at central government level, you’ll be able to seriously eyeball your local councillors and mayor and hold them to account for what they do.

If you can get enough support from your community over an issue, it’s likely that they will listen to you because they will need your vote at the next election to get back in.

So, while I understand it’s far more exciting to be an activist taking direct action against oil companies and sweat shops and marching on Parliament, you might find an old-fashioned postal vote just might be more effective.

Voting papers are starting to be sent out at the end of this week.

Son, that’s your birthday present.