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New Zealand-style STV a World
First
May 27, 2001
The following news release was issued by Rod
Donald, a Green Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Note that
in the United States, the single transferrable vote is known as
"choice voting."
New Zealand-style STV a World
First
27 May 2001
The Green Party says the adoption of the
"Meek's method" of STV (single transferable vote) in the Local
Electoral Bill, passed on Thursday, makes New Zealand a world
leader.
"Although STV has been used for
decades in Australia and Ireland we will be the first country to
couple it with a sophisticated computerised counting programme,"
said Green co-leader Rod Donald.
The nationwide adoption of STV for
the 2004 district Health Board elections and an STV option for
council elections, marks the end of the seven year campaign by the
Green Party and organisations like the Electoral Reform Coalition to
replace first past the post with STV.
"I'm confident voters will relish
the opportunity to use a fair and inclusive voting system for the
Health Board elections and I am sure many councils and communities
will switch to STV for the 2004 council elections," Rod Donald
said.
"I will be writing to every local
authority in the country this week to offer them a presentation on
how STV works and encouraging them to make the change.
"A good number* have already
indicated their support in principle for STV and I hope they will
lead the way in 2004.
"The great thing about the STV
provisions in the Local Electoral Act are that both councils and
communities have the choice to move to the new system.
Councils can either resolve to
change or hold a referendum of local voters. The community can
petition the council by gathering signatories from 5% of voters to
force a referendum.
"STV will bring to local government
what MMP has done for parliament. There will be more Maori, more
women, more young people and more ethnic minorities on those local
bodies which adopt STV, reflecting the richness of the communities
they represent.
"To those who say STV is confusing,
I say it's as simple as ranking candidates 1,2,3,4,5, in order of
preference.
"While I believe the Electoral
Commission should run a comprehensive voter education campaign
before the 2004 local government and DHB elections, I don't think we
should underestimate the intelligence of New Zealand
voters.
"After all, the Irish and the
Australians have been using the STV system for decades and they are
bright enough to make it work, " Rod Donald
said.
* See attached for list of
supportive Councils. Councils who have indicated they will adopt
STV:
Dunedin City Council
Horowhenua District Council
Palmerston North City Council
Rotorua District Council
Upper Hutt City Council
Waikato District
Council
Councils who are supportive of STV
in principle:
Christchurch City Council
Hamilton City Council
Napier City Council
Otago Regional Council
Ruapehu District Council South
Taranaki District Council
Tararua
District Council |
