Organisers against FPP offer services

Volunteers muster to force referendum By Allison Rudd, Otago Daily Times, Wednesday, 4 September 2002 Dunedin residents are already marshalling the troops to force a citywide referendum on voting systems. And they say they are confident Dunedin voters want a change to the single transferable vote (STV) system, despite that option being cast aside yesterday by the Dunedin City Council. If more than 5% of eligible voters demand it, the council must hold a referendum asking residents whether they want a switch to STV at the 2004 and 2008 local body elections, or if they want to retain the existing first-past-the-post system. Regardless of how many people participate in the referendum, a majority decision would be binding. To force a referendum, a petition signed by at least 4200 eligible Dunedin City voters must be in the hands of the council by December 13. A poll would be held in late February or early March, Otago University Students Association representatives Sam Huggard and Steven Sutton, who attended yesterday's council meeting, said afterwards they would help organise a petition. So did Roy Ward, who also watched the meeting and described himself as an interested member of the public. Dunedin Mayor Sukhi Turner pledged her personal support. "My stance on STV is well known." Last night, long-time social issues campaigner Lyndon Weggery telephoned the Otago Daily Times to say he planned to organise a petition. He was not surprised to find others had already offered. "There are plenty of people around who want to see STV happen - the Greens [Party], students, the Ratepayers and Householders Association and individuals. "We are determined the council is not going to flag this away. STV is the way of the future." Mr Weggery said he planned to hold a public meeting to gather support. "Getting a petition together with 4200 signatures on it won't be easy. But Dunedin is a small city with good networks, and with good teamwork I am sure it can be achieved."

High cost for little comment

By Allison Rudd, Otago Daily Times, Tuesday, 3 September 2002 Seeking community feedback on whether the city should adopt the single transferable vote (STV) local body voting system has cost the Dunedin City Council dearly for little return. The council spent $10,000 on newspaper advertisements outlining the STV and the current first-past-the-post systems, as well as delivering pamphlets to about 45,000 households. Comment was invited, but only 180 people responded, electoral officer Doug Jackson said in a report to be discussed by councillors today. That number is about 0.2% of the city's 90,000 voters. The council is holding a special meeting this afternoon to decide whether to adopt STV for the 2004 elections or to retain first-past-the-post. Mr Jackson said the council received 125 letters, 28 telephone calls and 27 e-mails. Almost 130 people were in favour of STV, with the remainder supporting first-past-the-post. If more than 5% of ratepayers request one, the council can be asked to conduct a binding referendum. Mr Jackson said eight people suggested there should be a poll. The council can also decide itself to hold a poll. STV is being used at the 2004 District Health Board elections, but it is up to local and regional councils to decide by September 12 which system they will adopt.

Boards split on voting system

By Andrea Jones, Otago Daily Times, Saturday, 10 August 2002 The Dunedin City Council has received no clear message from its community boards about whether to change its voting system. Three of the six boards support the introduction of the single transferable vote (STV) option in the next local body elections in 2004, while two favour the status quo with the first-past-the-post (FPP) system. The Waikouaiti Coast Community Board has voted to support the council deciding what system should be used in two years, with that decision to reflect the results of community consultation. The Saddle Hill Community Board, which was the last to discuss the issue, decided on Thursday to support FPP. That is also the option supported by the Chalmers Community Board. The Otago Peninsula, Strath Taieri and Mosgiel Taieri boards have backed a change to STV. The council will decide in September whether to abandon FPP in favour of STV. People have until August 23 to comment on the issue. Under FPP, voters are able to cast as many votes as there are vacancies to be filled. Under STV, each voter has only one vote, but is able to rank some or all of the candidates. Former Dunedin mayoral candidate Alan McDonald said STV would produce a result that would "more accurately reflect public preferences". He outlined his support for STV in a letter sent to council electoral officer Doug Jackson, a copy of which Mr McDonald supplied to The Otago Daily Times yesterday. Mr McDonald said STV should only be introduced if the urban wards were merged into one central ward. The present split of wards was undemocratic and unfair to candidates and voters, he said.

STV gets lukewarm response

By Allison Rudd, Otago Daily Times, Thursday, 8 August 2002 Mosgiel Taieri Community Board members support the introduction of a new form of voting at the 2004 local body elections. But their enthusiasm for single transferrable voting (STV) was lukewarm. Amid much good-natured banter at their August meeting yesterday, a motion to stick with the present first-past-the-post (FPP) system was defeated on the casting vote of chairman, Brian Cashmere. When the motion was put to support STV, board member Lester Harvey had to be persuaded to vote at all. Mr Harvey said "he didn't really care either way" whether FPP or STV was used. But he said he would vote for STV, even though he thought ratepayers would find it too complicated. Mr Cashmere, Mr Harvey, Brian Miller and Martin Dillon voted in favour, with Maurice Prendergast against. Cr Syd Brown abstained and Robert Cochrane was absent. Board members listened for about 15 minutes as Dunedin electoral officer Doug Jackson explained STV. The major difference for voters under STV was that they would have only one vote, but would be able to rank candidates in order of preference. Mr Jackson said the way votes were counted and transferred between candidates was complicated. "People would have to trust the computer calculations as being correct." The Dunedin City Council will decide on September 3 whether to switch to STV. If the decision is challenged by more than 5% of eligible voters, a binding referendum across all voters will be held.

Council opts for FPP system

By David Bruce, Otago Daily Times, Wednesday, 7 August 2002 Oamaru: The first past the post voting system has been retained by the Waitaki District Council for its local body elections - but voters may have the final say. Yesterday the council decided to retain first past the post (FPP) for its triennial elections rather than introducing the single transferable vote (STV) system. But its decision can be challenged. If 5% of the district electors - about 770 voters - demand it, a poll must be held. A poll would cost about $30,000, but the outcome would be binding on the council for two elections. Most councillors felt yesterday people did not know enough about the STV system at this stage to use it in the 2004 election. The new Local Electoral Act gives local bodies the choice of keeping the FPP system or introducing STV. STV will be compulsory for district health board elections from 2004. Cr Struan Munro said the STV system for health boards would help voters understand how the system worked. Cr Elizabeth McCone felt that STV was more suitable for districts with large populations. In a district the size of Waitaki, voters knew the people who were standing for the council. Cr McCone was concerned about the extra costs - estimated at $18,000 for Waitaki - to run an STV election and the time it took for results to be posted. Cr Rodney Grater said there had been no demand for the council to change and he did not see a need to introduce STV at this time. Under the STV system, each voter ranks some or all of the candidates. When one candidate gets sufficient votes to be elected, the remaining votes are transferred to the ranked candidates. The STV system would add about $18,000 to the cost of running the triennial election. Before the council meeting, Gary Clover and Barbara Duff put the case for the council to adopt the STV system. Rev Clover felt the STV system was more democratic because a greater number of votes were given full weighting than under the FPP system. Ms Duff felt the council should not make a decision until more consultation had been held with the community. A poll would result in an educated and informed decision being made.

Mixed views over STV
Boards consider voting option

By Andrea Jones, Otago Daily Times, Monday, 5 August 2002 Community boards in Dunedin have mixed views on whether there should be a change in the way residents elect their local-body representatives. So far, two boards support the introduction of the single transferable vote (STV) option in the next local-body elections in 2004, while one supports the status quo. The Dunedin City Council and its community boards are at present elected under the first-past-the-post (FPP) system. The council will decide in September whether to abandon FPP in favour of STV and, as part of its consultation, boards have been asked for their views. The Strath Taieri Community Board has voted 2-1, with three abstentions, to support the introduction of STV. Last week, the Chalmers Community Board supported retaining FPP for the next election. It also expressed concern at the extra costs involved in adopting STV. It has been previously reported that the Otago Peninsula Community Board wants to see a change to STV. The Waikouaiti Coast Community Board has voted to support the council deciding what system should be used in 2004, with that decision to reflect the result of the community consultation. The Mosgiel Taieri and Saddle Hill community boards will consider the issue this week. Under FPP, voters are able to cast as many votes as there are vacancies to be filled. Under STV, each voter has only one vote, but is able to rank some or all of the candidates.

Voting changes considered

By Andrea Jones, Otago Daily Times, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 Dunedin city councillors gave no clear direction yesterday whether there should be a change to the way residents vote for them. Instead, elected members focused on how to canvas community views, delaying a decision until later in the year. Councillors had their first chance yesterday to debate whether to abandon the first-past-the-post (FPP) system in favour of the single transferable vote (STV) option in the next local body elections in 2004. Canterbury political analyst Alan McRobie gave the finance and strategy committee a comprehensive 50-minute overview of STV, and how it worked compared with the present system. Unlike FPP, voters are able to cast as many votes as there are vacancies to be filled. Under STV, each voter has only one vote but is able to rank some or all of the candidates in preferred order. Mr McRobie said STV made it easier for minor parties, Maori and other ethnic groups, and independents to gain seats. The result usually more closely represented the make-up of the community as a whole. Elected members gave little away about their personal views on the alternative voting systems, preferring to talk about how they could get the public's view. The committee recommended community boards be consulted, and that the issue be discussed at the next joint meeting of the city council and Otago Regional Council. It asked staff to provide a plan to the July full council meeting outlining ways to inform and consult the wider community on the choice of electoral systems. All stories are copyright the Otago Daily Times. The Green Party seek never to break copyright, but in this case we were forced to because the Otago Daily Times website prevents deep-linking. Read a discussion of why Deep Linking is Good Linking