Concern over growing number of election non-voters

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Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:51p.m.

Legally NZers have to be on the Electoral Role, but aren’t required to cast a vote

Legally NZers have to be on the Electoral Role, but aren’t required to cast a vote

By Laura Frykberg

Last election almost 20 percent of those enrolled didn’t vote for a number of reasons. This year, there is an alarming drop in election enrolment.

It is an increasing trend which is worrying the Electoral Commission and some politicians.

Legally New Zealanders have to be on the Electoral Role, but aren’t required to cast a vote. The Electoral Commission says non-voters are on the rise and it is a problem.

“By and large it is as you would expect; primarily young people who don’t vote,” says spokesman Robert Peden.

“What they tell us is, frankly, voting is not a priority for them.”

The most common reasons for not voting in the last election included:

  • “I had other commitments, including work” and
  • “I forgot”

Other comments from non-voters were:

  • “I’m just not that interested in politics”
  • “I don’t trust politicians”
  • “It makes no difference in my life who wins the election” and
  • “My vote won’t make a difference”

One quarter of 18 to 20-year-olds aren’t on the Electoral Roll and one fifth of 24 to 30-year-olds also aren’t enrolled.

While it is illegal, fines are rarely issued. The Greens argue Parliament doesn’t represent everyone if those people don’t vote.

Politics at secondary school, they say, should be mandatory.

“We’re on track for our lowest ever enrolment track ever,” says Green MP Gareth Hughes. “It’s deeply disturbing. I think the Electoral Commission could be doing more because I think young people do have a stake in our future.”

New Zealand has a higher voter turnout than in many western countries.

But, unless there is a sudden rush in enrolments, this election is shaping up to have one of the lowest turnouts ever.

You have until election day to enrol.

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Comments

13 Nov 2011 09:34p.m.

berry wrote:

Yeah I agree that not voting is a vote for john keys corruption. At least if you vote you can cancel out a national vote. I still don't understand why people like him so much and stand behind nationals values. Not only is he corrupt and serves his personal interests, he has stuffed up early childhood and education. One of their policies is that they will help children that are falling behind, but they are not funding the kids that don't meet national standards. So many things he says are lies or misleading. And people don't like the asset sales and yet they are still voting national. If you don't like it vote for someone else. If only our government cared about the country and people instead of taking from the poor and mining our conservation land.

21 Oct 2011 12:36p.m.

dr panopticon wrote:

voting should be compulsory. On the week of election, anyone who does not cast a vote without good reason should have their benefit or pay withheld for government use.

20 Oct 2011 03:58p.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Excellent. National will romp in.

20 Oct 2011 02:23p.m.

eddie wrote:

18-25yr olds normally vote Labour/Greens...what's the problem?...I don't see one. This crops up at every election...old news rehashed.

20 Oct 2011 11:20a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Michael, an "electoral role" is a theatrical part played by members of the public as they go through the act of shuffling grimly toward the polling stations looking like Uriah Heep.

20 Oct 2011 11:02a.m.

Clarke wrote:

Not voting is a vote for John Keys corruption to conitinue. He sold out to the oil and mininng companies before the last election. He supposedly lost the underground mining report, which saved his corporate buddies in the mining industry from having to fork out more money on safety. He and Maurice Williamson... conveniently forgot that Labour was going to sign the bunker accord.... that got shelved as well. There was no point in labour signing it before November 28th 2008 as it wasnt internationally upheld and recognised until then... and labour were three weeks gone. Not signing that means that the oil companies can spill as much oil as they like offshore and that they will only have to worry about $200,000 of the bill while the Kiwi tax payer picks up the millions/tens of millions portion of the bill. Not voting is giving this idiot more of a chance to sell out kiwis.

20 Oct 2011 06:43a.m.

atrout wrote:

It would be the Greens who are concerned as they draw from a voting bloc which is idealistic rather than rational. If someone chooses not to vote it simply means that it has little or no value to them. With the current 'style' in Parliament, who could blame them. Who trusts politicians and who has the feeling that their interests are being served? We need serious reform in Parliament- fewer MPs, a tweaked MMP system and drop the Maori seats... Then the level of respect for Parliament might creep up a bit. At present, Parliament is an embarrassing circus.

20 Oct 2011 06:03a.m.

Alex wrote:

If you don't vote, you might as well be happy living under a fascist dictatorship

20 Oct 2011 01:43a.m.

Michael wrote:

What's an electoral role???

20 Oct 2011 12:45a.m.

carl wrote:

Not allowed to vote. haven't been in NZ for 3 years.