Countries that have delayed elections due to Covid-19
- Anguilla
- Australia
- Austria
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Bosnia
- Botswana
- Bougainville
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Czech Republic
- Ethiopa
- Falkland Islands
- France
- French Guiana
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Libya
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- New Caledonia
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Northern Cyprus
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States (26 states or territories)
- Uruguay
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
This is a real test for the Prime Minister about whether she is making decisions for the public good or Labour’s good.
If the election is not delayed, voting starts in just 19 days. A third of the population is in Level 3 lockdown and the rest of NZ may follow. All political parties and candidates have suspended their campaigns. There is no door knocking. There are no public meetings. There can be no campaign launches. Rest homes are locked down. Schools are closed. Most people (in Auckland) can’t go to work.
71 other countries have decided that you want elections to be held at a time when you can maximise turnout, and decided to delay their elections. Labour for years has said it is vital to make it as easy as possible for people to vote and pushed through law changes allowing same day enrolment and voting etc.
So the decision to be made by the Prime Minister is a very important one, that will tell us a lot about Labour’s priorities.