STV: It's Spreading

Poll demands on the local voting system were turned in on Friday 28 February to Napier, Hutt and Tasman councils. lf successful, voters in those areas will get to have their say in May, adding to the thirteen referenda already scheduled this year.

Volunteers in Tasman gathered almost twice the number of signatures needed. Electoral reform advocates in the Hutt City Council district turned in over 4500 signatures - almost 40% more than the 3253 valid required while the Napier City Council received 2566 signatures, well over the 1921 needed.

"The councils are working hard to quickly validate the signatures," said Lynne Serpe, national STV coordinator. "We should know by the end of this week whether efforts were successful.

"We think it's wonderful that upwards of 630,000 voters will have the opportunity to choose between single transferable voting (STV) and first past the post (FPP) in the next few months."

"Whether it's a full page 'We're voting for STV' advertisement in the Akaroa Mail filled with the names of dozens of community members," continued Ms. Serpe, "or the mock elections being held on the street in Colville or the hundreds of STV condoms being distributed on university campuses in Dunedin, Palmerston North and Christchurch, volunteers are busy spreading information about STV to voters eager to learn more about their choices."

The first of the citizen-triggered referenda will end this Saturday 8 March, in Banks Peninsula. The next round of ballot papers will go out the following week to Tararua, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Waipa, Carterton and Masterton.

More information about STV and each campaign is available at http://www.stvnz.org

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