Commission favoured November date

AUCKLAND: The Electoral Commission wanted the election date to be November 21, saying that October would not allow enough time to be ready.

But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern decided to push election day back from September 19 to October 17 following the second outbreak of Covid19.

A letter from the commission revealing its preference is one of hundreds of documents proactively released yesterday relating to the Covid19 response.

The commission said of the October 17 date: ‘‘This date in our view would not allow sufficient time for the commission to revise all existing arrangements for voting places, staff and election communications.’’

The letter is to Justice Minister Andrew Little and was also sent to Ms Ardern and National Party leader Judith Collins.

The following day, the Ministry of Justice elaborated on the commission’s position in a letter to Mr Little.

‘‘The commission has advised that from its perspective, taking into account the usual events to avoid and the need to secure venues, print materials for the public and communicate the change, its preferred alternative date to hold the election is Saturday, November 21,’’ the letter said.

‘‘Proceeding earlier than this does not give it sufficient time to restandup advance and election day voting services.’’

The ministry added that election dates usually avoided school or statutory holidays; that left only October 17 and November 21 as options.

It added an election could take place under Alert Level 3 or 4, but there would be longer wait times and less facetoface engagement.

‘‘There is also a risk that some people may be less willing to go to a voting place or even use a post box. This may decrease voter turnout.

‘‘There will be significant operational implications for the commission. The impact will depend on the size and number of regions at higher alert levels, and the numbers in isolation or quarantine.’’

The commission had already made preparations to have an election under Level 2, and with up to 10 ‘‘clusters’’ of up to 5000 cases at Level 3 and 4.

A separate letter from the ministry to Mr Little identified voting places, recruiting and training staff, and communications as the three issues in running an election in Level 3.

‘‘The commission needs approximately 10,000 people to work in voting places in the affected area. To date it has appointed approximately 2500 and is entering the critical period for confirming appointments.

‘‘On average 6% of applicants are aged over 70. None of the people it has appointed to date have been asked or confirmed their willingness or availability to work under Alert Level 3 or on different date(s).’’

Ms Ardern announced the October 17 date four days later.

Other political parties applauded the decision.

New Zealand First had previously wanted a November election, while Ms Collins, after the second Covid19 outbreak, floated holding it next year.

That would have required a law change to extend the term of Parliament. — The New Zealand Herald