Electoral Reform Coalition calls on Auckland City Council to initiate its own referendum on the local voting system

Electoral Reform Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Electoral Reform Coalition calls on Auckland City Council to initiate its own referendum on the local voting system

Electoral reform advocates across Auckland City are pleased to have gathered over 10,000 signatures from Auckland City residents since their campaign launch on 25 September.

"Of course we are disappointed to fall short by such a small margin," said Lynne Serpe, national STV campaign coordinator. "But we feel pleased we did so well in face of misleading information being put out by opponents of the call for a referendum."

"We'll be presenting the over 10,000 strong petition to the Auckland City Council on Thursday 19 December and calling on them to allow voters a say in their own democracy."

The Coalition had hoped to oblige the council to hold a referendum but section 31 of the Local Electoral Act gives Councils until 28 February 2003 the opportunity to decide to sponsor a referendum on the voting system.

"Without doubt there is widespread support throughout Auckland for a referendum on STV," said Ms Serpe. "And with Wellington City already having held a referendum in which voters chose STV over FPP and with referenda almost certain to be triggered in Christchurch, Dunedin and Palmerston North, Auckland City would be the only main centre to miss out on the opportunity to allow voters a say in their own voting system."

"We'd like to thank all the Auckland City residents who took the time to sign the poll demand. It takes effort for democracy to continue to thrive," said Ms. Serpe. "The voting system used to elect our political representation plays a critical role in our democracy and we hope the Council agrees to sponsor a referendum."

ENDS

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