STV, Christchurch and Code of Good Practice

Society of Local Government Managers
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE
For the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls

Code of Good Practice – Electoral Systems (Updated June 2007)

To ensure that electoral officers and policy advisers are aware of the process and legal requirements for determining electoral systems.

Either the Local authority may resolve (by resolution) to change the electoral system - for 2010 election the resolution to change the electoral system must be made by 12 September 2008.

Or

Local authority must publicly notify the right for the public to demand a poll to change the electoral system, for 2010 election public notice must be given by 19 September  2008

Or

For the  PUBLIC to DEMAND a POLL it must be signed by 5% or more of the number of electors enrolled as eligible to vote at the previous general election of the local authority; (for 2010 election valid demand must be lodged by 28 February 2009 and poll held by 21 May 2009.)

Local authorities or their communities may choose the electoral system to be used for elections and polls. The only options, for both elections and polls, are First Past the Post (FPP) or Single Transferable Voting (STV) (refer sections 5A and 5B of Act and Regulation 8 of Local Electoral Regulations 2001).

Changes to electoral systems may be initiated in two ways: (a) a local authority may resolve to change its electoral system; or (b) a poll may be held to determine which electoral system will be used in the local authority area concerned. A poll can arise from public demand or as a result of a local authority decision.

If the electoral system changes as a result of a poll, the new electoral system must remain in use for at least the next two triennial elections and any associated elections.

That system continues in effect for all subsequent elections until a further resolution of the local authority or a further poll of electors takes effect, whichever occurs first.

If the result of the poll supports the retention of the existing electoral system (i.e. no change is proposed) that system must continue to be used for at least the next two triennial elections and any associated elections. Again, that electoral system continues in effect for all subsequent elections (following the required two triennial elections) until a further resolution of the local authority or a further poll of electors takes effect, whichever occurs first.

[ An associated election in this context means any election to fill an extraordinary vacancy in the membership of the local authority that is held between the two successive triennial elections or after the second of those elections but before the subsequent triennial election.]

If the electoral system changes as a result of a local authority resolution, the new electoral system also takes effect for the next two triennial elections and any associated elections. However that decision can be reversed, after the first triennial election has been held under the new system, by a subsequent local authority resolution or by a poll of electors. 

The exception is district health boards which have no discretion to choose and are required, under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, to use the STV system.

Local authorities may, by resolution, adopt an electoral system for each poll conducted.  If no resolution is passed the FPP system must be used.

To ensure that electoral officers and policy advisers are aware of the process and legal requirements for determining electoral systems.

reference: see TABLE 2: CRITICAL DATES RELATING TO POLLS UNDER SECTION 138A OF THE ACT, .

Society of Local Government Managers
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE

For the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls

 

‹(•¿•)›     Blair Anderson
ph (643) 389 4065   cell 027 265 7219