Incorrect voting papers void trust election
THE Waitaki Power Trust’s election has been shortcircuited.
Voting papers for the triennial election for the trust, which holds all shares in Network Waitaki on behalf of local electricity consumers, were sent out on August 1 to electricity consumers in the Network Waitaki distribution area and any other people listed on the local authority electoral roll as a resident in the area.
However, after the trust was made aware that some people had received unexpected voting papers, the election has been voided and must start again, with new papers to be sent out.
A spokesman said the trust had been made aware of issues of voting papers being duplicated, sent to ineligible voters, addressed to previous occupants and, in some cases, to dead people.
‘‘Unfortunately, with so many incorrect papers sent out it does compromise the integrity of the election and so we will have to void this election and send out new papers to eligible voters.’’
The election was run by an independent electoral services company, which compiled the mailing list and sent out the voting papers on behalf of the trust, the spokesman said.
The trust apologised for any confusion and distress the issue with voting papers may have caused some people and thanked everyone who had already voted and would need to vote again. The new voting papers would look different from the old papers, to minimise confusion.
‘‘At this time, we expect new papers to be sent out in the next week or so, and the timeline for the election process will be extended.’’
The trust would not disclose how much the error would cost, but would be seeking a resolution ‘‘at no cost to local consumers’’. A silver lining could be an increased awareness of the election, which usually had a voter turnout of about 30%, the spokesman said.
‘‘This voting paper issue is a nuisance we have to work through, however the unintended benefit is it will raise the profile of the power trust election with local consumers.’’
There are four candidates seeking three positions on the trust this year — John Clements, Lichelle Guyan, Peter Rodwell and Herb Tonkin.