Voters To Get To Choose Voting System

Hamilton voters will be given the opportunity to decide which voting system
they want when they vote at the next council elections.

Council agreed at their 25 August meeting that a poll be held at the 2013
elections where voters will be able to choose which voting system to use for the
2016 elections.

A public information campaign would be held before the 2013 elections to
inform voters about the First Past the Post (FPP) and Single Transferable Voting
(STV) voting systems.

FPP is the current voting system and will be used for the 2013 elections. STV is
used for District Health Board elections.

The last poll of electors was held in 2006, when 60% of voters elected to retain
the FPP system for the 2007 and 2010 elections.

Commenting, Electoral Officer Anthony Dick says: “It’s important voters fully
understand about the two different voting systems available for Council
elections. That’s why an information campaign explaining about both the First
Past the Post and Single Transferable Vote systems will be run ahead of our next
2013 local body elections.”

Note for editors: A binding poll on the voting system could be held at the next
2013 elections if 5% of voters demand this of Council by 28 February 2012.