Search for new ways to vote begins

UNEASE about postal voting jarring with modern society has been highlighted by Dunedin councillors putting forward views for a government inquiry about council elections.

The Dunedin City Council approved a submission this week covering issues ranging from how local elections might best be run to voting systems, such as single transferable votes (STV).

Cr Steve Walker said he had talked to young people who did not know where postboxes were, because they had never used them.

Deputy mayor Sophie Barker said she knew young people who did not check their mailboxes.

Cr Christine Garey said postal voting was not effective and the long period in which people could vote was problematic, as people could forget.

Cr Carmen Houlahan said many postboxes had disappeared from the city.

The council said in its submission it had received anecdotal evidence the postal system was not as reliable or accessible as it had been historically, especially to younger voters.

It recommended the Government explore provision of alternative and secure voting methods for local elections, such as ballot booths and online voting.

Low voter turnout is a key focus of the inquiry.

Dunedin’s turnout crept up since 2016 to 49.6% last year, including special votes.

The city council provided voting bins through the city last year as an alternative to the postal network and promoted casting special votes at such places such as the Civic Centre.

It said centralisation of all local election functions was not plausible and local government’s ‘‘extensive knowledge of their communities can be an advantage when promoting participation in elections’’.

STV is used by the city council and its submission highlighted the view the system ‘‘promotes greater diversity of elected representatives’’.

STV relies on voters ranking candidates in order of preference and the system is sometimes criticised as being complicated, but credited with doing a better job than firstpastthepost of empowering more voters to more directly influence who is elected.

The city council preferred universal adoption of STV, as this would provide uniformity.

Anticipating Parliament could lower the voting age from 18 to 16, the council recommended improving civics education in secondary schools to ensure young people had the ‘‘institutional knowledge and confidence to meaningfully contribute to decisionmaking processes and to vote in local elections’’.

Cr Lee Vandervis, who voted against the council’s submission, said he was uncomfortable about local government staff having a role in running elections.

He also had reservations about STV.