LGNZ Electoral recommendations

Some useful recommendations from the LGNZ working group on local elections.

Move to a nationally consistent system of in-person voting for all local elections that is as similar as possible to parliamentary elections over a two-week timeframe in which to vote, with polling booths in venues where people frequently visit. Preferably by the 2028 local elections or the 2031 local elections at the latest.

If you really want to boost turnout, then I would allow all three methods of voting – postal, in booths and online. Postal is dying, and in booths did not do well in the days before postal.

If we do not shift away from postal voting in 2028, then the Local Electoral Act should be amended to enable overseas voters to use the same electronic voting approach as central government elections, and make it easier for voters to have voting papers reissued if they do not arrive.

Not just for overseas voters. Everyone should be able to access this.

The Government should amend the Electoral Act and Local Electoral Act to put the Electoral Commission in charge of administering and promoting local elections.

Strongly agree, and well overdue.

Local government and central government should move to a four-year term with elections spaced two years apart.

Also a strong agree. If in 2026 people vote for a four year term, then presumably central government elections would be 2029, 2033, 2037 etc. You could then have local elections in 2025, 2028, 2031, 2035, 2039.

The Local Government Act should be amended to strengthen the Code of Conduct process by Empowering the Local Government Commission to investigate complaints relating to significant breaches

I disagree with this one. It would change the nature of the LGC dramatically and politicise it.

Overall some good food for thought, and hopefully the Government adopts many of them.