Council opts for electoral system poll in 2019

Published on 15 September 2017

6 September 2017 

Whanganui District Councillors have opted to include a poll on the electoral system in the next local body elections in 2019.  

Voters will be able to choose whether to stay with the current First Past the Post (FPP) system, or change to Single Transferable Vote (STV), which is used throughout the country for electing District Health Boards. The results of the poll would be binding and any change would come into effect for the 2022 and 2025 elections.

Mayor Hamish McDouall says, “Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, local authorities can decide to change the electoral system (method of voting) two years prior to the next election. Although Councillors have different preferences, we unanimously agreed that the system of voting was properly the decision of the electors of Whanganui, rather than just the Councillors elected under the FFP system. We felt that those electors should formally be able to have their say before any change was introduced.”

Members of the public can request a poll to be held at any time, by presenting a petition which must have approximately 1563 signatures supporting a change of system. Mr McDouall says, “Councillors strongly indicated they would prefer to take the more cost-effective route of including a poll in the next election, rather than holding a separate poll which would cost in the vicinity of $50,000.”

The community was invited to indicate their preference between the two systems, via an online survey, media and social media communications and a public meeting held with the Mayor and Electoral Officer, Noeline Moosman, on 23 August.

187 people responded to the survey, with 63% preferring First Past the Post and 37% preferring Single Transferable Vote.