drive-by voting a massive success – despite the weather!

12 October 2013

Hamilton City Council electoral staff were out in stormy conditions today showing their dedication to ensuring all voters who want their say can post their votes.

The staff tolerated pouring rain and high winds - holding ballot boxes out to passing traffic - so people could post their votes directly into the ballot boxes as they drove by.

Rebecca Aston, one of the staff involved, said she had no idea it was going to be this popular. “People have just kept coming and coming all morning. They have all been so grateful we did this because it makes voting so easy for them,” she said.

Hundreds of drivers were at times backed up ten deep waiting their chance to post their ballots.

Almost all congratulated staff on the initiative which made it super easy for them to have their say.

Only one ‘grumpy’ man challenged them saying what they were doing was not legal. But as each of the staff was an electoral official and the ballot boxes were authentic, the staff were absolutely doing the right thing.

As a result of the initiative staff estimate just under 1000 additional votes were cast that may not have otherwise been.

And despite the cold and the wind and the soaking wet socks Rebecca says she will definitely do it again next time, “it’s so good to feel like we have been able to make a difference for our customers just by doing something this simple’.

Voting closed at midday today. Progres results are expected to be available at approximately 2pm.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell:
On What John Banks And Nick Smith Have In Common

The defence that John Banks has been offering to the charges of electoral fraud – that he didn’t read the document he signed, and therefore lacked the necessary criminal intent – is a fairly standard example of political business as usual.

At a time when political power is being centralised downtown in the Executive, responsibility is being re-located to the suburbs. The Beehive seeks to operate as a blame free, shame free environment. At all times, plausible deniability is to be maintained.

Being able to put distance between the Minister and the actions/outcomes/political fallout of policy is not simply the last desperate resort of scoundrels, but the first resort of the foot soldiers in ministerial service... More>>