Electoral Commission Referral to Police 4 December 2013

04 December 2013 News items

On 4 December 2013, the Electoral Commission referred Hon David Cunliffe to Police for publishing a statement on Twitter on the day of the Christchurch East By-election.

It is the Electoral Commission’s view that the statement constituted a breach of section 197(1)(g)(i) of the Electoral Act 1993 because it was a statement published on polling day advising, or intended, or likely to influence electors as to the candidate for whom they should or should not vote in the by-election.

As this matter is now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further.

ENDS