Electoral System Poll
PUBLIC NOTICE OF RIGHT TO DEMAND A POLL ON ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
Notice is hereby given that South Wairarapa District Council has resolved to continue to use “First Past the Post” as its electoral system for the 2025 Triennial Elections.
Members of the public are advised that if they do not support the use of “First Past the Post” as the electoral system they have the right to demand (under section 29 of the Local Electoral Act 2001) a poll on the electoral system to be used at the next two triennial general elections for the South Wairarapa District Council.
The choice is between the First Past the Post (FPP) and Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral systems. Unless a poll determines otherwise, the FPP electoral system will continue to be used for the South Wairarapa District Council.
A valid demand for a poll must be:
- Made in writing.
- Signed by at least 5 percent of the number of electors eligible to vote at the previous triennial general election of South Wairarapa District Council (This will require 452 elector signatures)
- Delivered to the office of the South Wairarapa District Council, Kitchener Street Martinborough, by 11 December 2023 if the demand is to be effective for the 2025 general elections.
Every elector who signs a demand must also state against his or her signature, their full name and the address for which they are qualified as an elector of the South Wairarapa District.
Interim CE Paul Gardner
Details on the Council decision on 2 August 2023 here
FAQs
What is First Past the Post (FPP)?
- Well known and easy to use.
- You tick the boxes of the candidates you want to vote for, up to the number of positions to be filled.
- The candidate with the most votes is elected
What is Single Transferable Vote (STV)?
- You have a single vote (regardless of the number of positions to be filled) and your vote can be transferred between candidates.
- You rank (1, 2, 3 …) as many or as few candidates as you wish.
- If your first preferred candidate (no. 1):
a. either does not need all the votes they get; part of your vote is transferred to your next preferred candidate
b. or has no chance of being elected, your whole vote is transferred to your next preferred candidate. - Your vote continues to be transferred, if either your next preferred candidate does not need all the votes they get, or has no chance of being elected, until all positions are filled. Therefore, you will contribute to the election of at least one candidate.
- No wasted votes and more incentive to vote for your true preference.
- Costs about 25% more to process the votes
- Recommended by the Future of Local Government Report for all councils.
How to initiate a poll
For information about how to initiate a poll, contact us on haveyoursay@swdc.govt.nz and we can step you through the process.
