Latest news with #ElectoralCommission
Newsroom
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsroom
Hundreds of thousands of voters affected by planned electoral changes
A new electoral law change would remove same-day voting and late enrolments, as well as impacting the votes of those who haven't updated their physical address ahead of the advanced voting period. The Government has moved ahead with sweeping voting changes that will restrict who can vote and when people can enrol. The Electoral Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament on Thursday, not only scraps same-day voter enrolment, but stops people from enrolling to vote during the advanced voting period. During the 2023 election almost 100,000 people enrolled to vote during that 12-day period, with the number of people enrolling and voting late increasing at each election. The advanced voting period was previously set by the Electoral Commission. The bill proposes that it now be a set 12 days. Following the last election, the Electoral Commission raised issues with the cost and administrative burden of processing so many special votes and late enrolments. However, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb previously told Newsroom that administrative cost was not a valid reason for restricting the number of people who could access their democratic right to vote. The proposed changes, championed by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, would also stop people from changing their voter registration details during that advanced voting period. In 2023, 134,000 people changed their physical address and changed electorates during that voting period. That would no longer be allowed if this bill were to pass, meaning if someone were to move to another electorate during that 12-day period (or had not updated their address details prior to the advanced voting period) their party vote would be counted, but their electorate vote would be invalid. Additionally, it would be considered an offence to bribe someone to switch between the Māori and general roll. These changes come in the wake of earlier changes that banned all prisoners from voting in general elections. Earlier this year, Cabinet agreed to introduce legislation that would remove voting rights from those sentenced to prison for up to three years, in a move that the Supreme Court has already said breaches human rights law. The move, signed off on in April, essentially reverses legislation passed by the Labour-led coalition government in 2020 – a law that NZ First supported at the time. It comes despite the Independent Electoral Commission recommending that all prisoners – not just those serving a term of less than three years – should be allowed to vote. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith ruled out this recommendation when the review's final report was released last year. These decisions to further restrict voter eligibility and enrolment appear to have been made at the same time, with Goldsmith previously telling Newsroom he had made a decision on what to do with same-day voter registration. However, he refused to announce what those changes were before now. Alongside the prisoner voting ban, Cabinet is proposing to change rules for people detained in hospitals or secure forensic facilities under compulsory mental health or intellectual disability orders, making them eligible to vote. This ban currently captures people who had not been convicted of committing a criminal act, but have been detained in a facility or hospital for three or more years. These people would now be eligible to vote. This proposal was signalled earlier in the year, but the minister took further advice before deciding on the eligibility of those who were deemed to suffer from a mental illness or distress. In a press release, Goldsmith said allowing late enrolments was well-intentioned but placed too much strain on the system. 'If we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections. The 20-day timeframe for a final result will likely already be challenging to achieve at the next election without changes.' He also noted the donation disclosure threshold had increased from $5000 to $6000 to adjust for inflation. Goldsmith categorised these changes as 'significant, but necessary'. He said it took too long to get the final results and then form a government, following election day. He also said that Kiwis had been sent mixed messages from the Electoral Commission, which encouraged people to enrol while also allowing people to enrol up to, and on, election day. Officails warned Goldsmith the changes could be seen as a 'step backwards for accessibility'. 'Closing enrolment earlier could harm confidence and trust if people are not able to vote because they missed the deadline or if more votes are disallowed.' Electoral Commission data indicated Māori could be disproportionately impacted. Special votes were more likely to come from areas with larger proportions of Māori, Asian and Pasifika communities. Younger people were also more likely to cast a special vote. In 2023, 17.3 percent of Māori voters updated their details or enrolled during the voting period, compared to 9.8 percent of non-Māori. That percentage was even higher for voters on the Māori roll, at 18.9 percent. Meanwhile, 48 percent of Māori voters aged 18 to 19 enrolled of updated their details during the voting period. 'These trends may indicate that these communities are more likely to be affected by an earlier enrolment deadline,' officials said. Goldsmith said he was confident Māori voters would be able to get themselves enrolled ahead of the 12-day advanced voting period. 'If people are making the argument that Māori are less capable of getting enrolled and participating, I just don't agree with that.' Act Party leader David Seymour said it was a responsibility to be on the electoral roll. 'If you can't be bothered doing that, maybe you don't care so much,' he said. 'When you vote, you're voting to give huge power to tax people's money make rules restricting their lives. Frankly, I'm a bit sick of dropkicks that can't get themselves organised and to follow the law which registering to vote is a legal requirement, then going along and voting to tax away hard working people's money and have people that make laws that restrict their freedoms, actually rights come with some responsibilities.' NZ First leader Winston Peters said politicians were entitled to know who voters were ahead of the election. 'Because when you go on a campaign, you should know who your constituency is. And people are turning up on election day with no idea what the campaign was all about. We've got no idea who they are. We don't know how to talk politics to them or to make them part of the electoral process, and yet, seemingly, they are able to vote. That can't be right … We're entitled to know what the voters think about us, because we know who they are … otherwise, what's the campaign about?' Labour Party justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said tens of thousands of people would miss out on exercising their democratic right to vote if these 'despicable' proposed changes became law. 'This is an appalling change that will make it harder for a lot of people to exercise their democratic right,' he said. 'The Government's justification is the speed of results. That is no reason to make it harder for people to vote in the first place. Voter turnout should be encouraged, with changes to support that. People should not be shut out, he said. Green Party democracy and electoral reform spokesperson Celia Wade-Brown said the Government's proposed changes would weaken democracy by restricting voting rights. If the Green party was in government it would restore the right to vote for all New Zealanders – including prisoners – restore same-day enrolment, and reform election funding in line with the recommendations of the Independent Electoral Review.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Axing Same-Day Enrolment To Vote Exposes Impact Of Govt Starving Another Key Agency Of Enough Funding
The PSA is condemning proposed changes to New Zealand's electoral laws as undemocratic and the result of a systematically underfunded public service. "We were shocked to see the Government propose several changes to electoral laws, especially the end to same-day voter enrolment," Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says. "They say that the system - in other words, the Electoral Commission - can't handle the strain of same-day enrolment in the years to come. "Why has the Government chosen to build obstacles around people's basic right to vote, instead of funding the Electoral Commission properly?" Like many other public service agencies, the Electoral Commission has been forced to tighten its budget by the National-led Government and restructured its staff last year. "At the time, we criticised that restructure process as rushed - and it eventually resulted in several highly skilled staff leaving the organisation. "New Zealanders are rightfully proud of our democracy. But we also know that to maintain our democracy, we need to care for it and invest into it. "New Zealanders want the public service to be given the tools - including the funding - to make sure voting is as easy as possible for everyone. "100,000 people used the same-day enrolment process at the 2023 election. This is not a nice-to-have - this is a basic function of our democracy."
NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Major electoral law overhaul includes ending same-day enrolment, clarity on treats for voters
Closing enrolment 13 days before election day to reduce pressure on post-election timeframes. Requiring 12 days of advance voting at each election. Introducing automatic enrolment updates so the Electoral Commission can update people's enrolment details using data from other government agencies. Enabling greater use of digital communication by removing postal requirements for enrolment. Creating a new offence that prohibits the provision of free food, drink or entertainment within 100m of a voting place while voting is taking place. It will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000. Reinstating a total ban on prisoner voting. 'The donation threshold for reporting the names of party donors is also being adjusted from $5000 to $6000, to account for inflation.' Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the changes are "significant, but necessary". Photo / Michael Craig Goldsmith said late enrolments had 'placed too much strain on the system'. 'The final vote count used to take two weeks, last election it took three,' he said. 'If we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections. The 20-day timeframe for a final result will likely already be challenging to achieve at the next election without changes. 'Therefore, the Government has agreed to close enrolment before advance voting begins. People will need to make sure they enrol or update their enrolment details by midnight on the Sunday, before advance voting opens on Monday morning. 'This is a significant, but necessary change. The Electoral Commission will have plenty of time to run an education campaign to ensure people understand the new requirements. For Australia's federal election earlier this year, the enrolment deadline was 26 days before election day. I have every confidence New Zealand can manage within the 13-day deadline.' Act justice spokesman Todd Stephenson welcomed the reforms, saying it was 'outrageous' that someone 'completely disengaged and lazy can rock up to the voting booth, get registered there and then, and then vote to tax other people's money away'. 'People who want to pull the levers of democracy ought to get organised, look at the policies, and register well in advance,' he said. The Herald reported last year that the Government was looking to overturn the 2020 decision to allow same-day enrolment after a report from the Auditor-General exposed a series of problems with counting votes at the most recent election. The report noted that none of the problems found with the most recent election would have changed the national result or the result in any individual electorate. The report did not recommend changing the Electoral Act to prohibit election-day enrolments, but it found that the 2020 change had put immense pressure on the Electoral Commission because same-day enrolments must be counted as special votes, meaning they take 10 times longer to process than ordinary votes. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said at the time that the changes should be kept, given that 100,000 people took up the opportunity to enrol on election day. 'I think in a fiscally constrained time, and particularly where there are so many issues that are being hotly contested, it's important that we ensure that everybody has the right to vote and that everybody's vote gets counted. The Government's simply saying, 'Hey, we're going to cancel 100,000 people's votes.' That's not democratic,' Hipkins said. Other changes being made, according to Goldsmith, include allowing special vote processing earlier, increasing the number of members on the Electoral Commission board, and setting a single deadline for candidate nominations. 'The Government is progressing a separate bill to amend the Constitution Act 1986 to ensure the continuity of executive government in the post-election period,' a statement said. This will address an issue where ministers may remain in office after an election for 28 days while the final count is completed. However, if there is a delay to the election results (for example, due to a recount), then the 28 days can expire before new MPs are appointed. This happened at the 2023 election. The bill will allow for ministers to remain in office until all successful electorate and list MPs have been declared. Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. In 2025, he was a finalist for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.
Scoop
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Overhauling Unsustainable Electoral Laws
Minister of Justice The Government is overhauling outdated and unsustainable electoral laws including stopping same-day enrolment, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 'Allowing late enrolments, however well intentioned, has placed too much strain on the system. The final vote count used to take two weeks, last election it took three. 'If we leave things as they are, it could well take even longer in future elections. The 20-day timeframe for a final result will likely already be challenging to achieve at the next election without changes. 'Therefore, the Government has agreed to close enrolment before advance voting begins. People will need to make sure they enrol or update their enrolment details by midnight on the Sunday, before advance voting opens on Monday morning. 'This is a significant, but necessary change. The Electoral Commission will have plenty of time to run an education campaign to ensure people understand the new requirements. For Australia's federal election earlier this year, the enrolment deadline was 26 days before election day. I have every confidence New Zealand can manage within the 13-day deadline. 'We've also agreed to a range of other changes, including creating a new offence to strengthen the rules around treating near voting places. There has been some confusion in the past around what is and isn't treating. This will make the rules crystal clear. 'The donation threshold for reporting the names of party donors is also being adjusted from $5,000 to $6,000, to account for inflation.' Key changes include: Closing enrolment 13 days before election day to reduce pressure on post-election timeframes. Requiring 12 days of advance voting at each election. Introducing automatic enrolment updates so the Electoral Commission can update people's enrolment details using data from other government agencies. Enabling greater use of digital communication by removing postal requirements for enrolment. Creating a new offence that prohibits the provision of free food, drink or entertainment within 100 metres of a voting place while voting is taking place. It will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000. Reinstating a total ban on prisoner voting. The Bill makes a wide range of other changes including: Enabling special vote processing to begin earlier. Increasing the Electoral Commission's board from three to up to seven members. Setting a single deadline for all candidate nominations. Changing party registration requirements and timeframes. Providing flexibility on the contact details that can be included in promoter statements. The Government is progressing a separate bill to amend the Constitution Act 1986 to ensure the continuity of executive government in the post-election period.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
What we know about WA's problem-plagued state election, and what's to come
Six months before a state election which went so wrong it triggered a special inquiry to find answers, the man in charge gave a warning. "Electoral bodies find they only attract attention when things go wrong," Robert Kennedy told a parliamentary committee. "As long as everything is sailing along fine, no one is particularly interested in any issues you might be identifying." Just as he had predicted, no one paid much attention at the time. Few noticed Electoral Commissioner Kennedy cautioning there were "additional cost pressures and service improvements that … remain unfunded". But, he said: "If we can confirm our funding … I expect that we will be able to meet our goal and our promise of a better electoral experience in 2025." As the conduct of election showed — with reports of long wait times at polling booths, inexperienced staff and shortages of staff and ballot papers — that isn't what happened. The ABC revealed on Tuesday the decision to outsource recruitment of the temporary election workforce was largely motivated by two factors. First, a sense the running of the 2021 election had damaged the commission's reputation. Few involved in that poll — which Mark McGowan won in a post-COVID landslide — seemed to share the commission's concerns. "There were a few issues that I was aware of here and there, but nothing like the collapse that we saw in 2025," was shadow electoral affairs spokesperson Shane Love's recollection. "I think we got off lightly because of the result," Commissioner Kennedy had told parliament, referring to Labor's huge win. Another issue, he said, was "a lack of resources and internal procedures and processes to properly support our large temporary workforce". That lack of resources was also noted in the commission's decision to outsource recruitment. But the $86 million outsourcing contract was not mentioned at the committee hearing, despite being signed nearly a year prior. Instead, the commissioner warned multiple times funding the election was the biggest issue on his mind at that point, although he acknowledged some increased funding provided "so far". Asked this week if the government had adequately resourced the commission, Premier Roger Cook was clear. "There is nothing we do which would give the Electoral Commission any cause for concern in relation to their finances," he said on Tuesday. "Obviously, we want to know how the money is spent, but that's a conversation which predominantly takes place between treasury themselves and the WA Electoral Commission. "And as has been the custom after every election, when the Electoral Commission has required extra resources, they've been topped up." Budget papers show while the 2017 election came in pretty much on budget, the commission needed its total election year budget increased by 24 per cent (or about $8 million) compared to earlier plans. Last month's budget included a 55 per cent increase — more than $20 million — on earlier predictions. That took the commission's budget to around $57.5 million, with between $19 or $20 million paid under the contract. But a state government spokesperson did not answer questions about whether that money included what the commissioner was concerned about getting in late 2024. "The resourcing of the 2025 state election was a matter included in the terms of reference for the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA State General Election," they said in a statement. "The inquirer's report will be tabled in parliament next month." The electoral commissioner's comments to the committee — and particularly his warning that few paid attention to issues raised when things were going fine — could suggest he did feel some level of concern around finances. Understanding whether that was the case will be a critical question for the special inquiry to answer, if it is to have even the chance of avoiding a similarly problematic election in the future. Of course, that's not to say other, more direct changes, won't help. "A new acting commissioner and acting deputy commissioner have been appointed, both of whom are already reviewing the current practices, processes and culture of the WA Electoral Commission," was the assurance provided by Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael during the week. "The government will formally respond to recommendations within the special inquiry report when it is tabled in parliament and publicly released." That is not expected to be until mid-August at the earliest when parliament next sits. Later in the year, after local government elections have been run in October, the acting commissioner Dennis O'Reilly has also indicated the recruitment contract could be reconsidered. "As good contract managers, we will be sitting down to see what is working and what is not. Part of that process will also involve looking at what the future looks like with PERSOLKELLY," he told parliament. "I would not want to pre-empt anything, but as a good contract manager, I think it is important to sit down and have those discussions." Whatever changes eventuate, they are unlikely to have much of an impact on the culture of the commission, which could be an even more important factor. Any issues within the organisation clearly must be addressed before the next state election in 2029. But that focus cannot allow the state government to be let of the hook if there is found to be any undue external pressure on the commission. Nobody expects any part of government to be given a blank cheque. But it would be hard to justify fiscal restraint, for one of the agencies responsible for such a fundamental part of democracy to be deprived of a fraction of the state's $2.4 billion surplus last year.
