On-line voting is the way forward

OPINION: The dismal voter turnout in Hutt City raises some troubling issues about our democracy.

That only 37 per cent could be bothered to spend the five or so minutes it takes to vote, reflects a low level of interest in council affairs.

As a civic reporter for 24 years, I find that frustrating and perplexing. Council has a huge impact on everyday life. Public transport. libraries, the water we drink, sports fields and swimming pools are but just a few of the services councils provide. Overseeing the District Plan and implementing the Resource Management Act provides the framework we live in. Where you can drink alcohol and how high your neighbours can build their fence, are decided by council.

In recent years the number of people voting has steadily decreased. There are numerous reasons but as a community we need to do something about it.

Young people (those under 30) appear disconnected from the voting process both for local and national elections.

We increasingly live in a society where people are quick to complain but are reluctant to get involved. That manifests itself in the Not In My Backyard mentality that sees so many projects scuttled by local opposition, without any reference to the greater good. Allowing minorities to dictate is making people cynical about the way councils behave.

A look at the councillors elected in Hutt City in the last election provides another clue as to why so many don’t care. The council was largely white, middle class and over 60.

Two councillors had been on council tfor more than 30 years. Long standing councillors like to talk about institutional knowledge but a cynic could equally use phrases such as ‘‘out of touch’’ and ‘‘stuck in the mud’’.

So what do we need to do to get more people voting?

We do our banking on-line and that surely is the future for voting.

As well as on-line voting, designate one day for voting with traditional polling booths.

A maximum of three terms for councillors and mayors. A turnover of councillors will increase the opportunity for younger people, Maori, Polynesians and Asians to be elected. One candidate referred to her fellow candidates as ‘‘pale, male and stale’’ and she was not wrong.

Councils will only seem relevant to young people, when they accurately reflect the communities they represent.

Councils need to be far more proactive telling residents, especially the young, exactly what they do.

In Hutt City we had the bizarre situation where candidates with alleged links to Labour were criticised for supposedly interfering in local politics. Why is it unfair for Labour to encourage its supporters to vote and not Grey Power?