The PSA supports Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) recommendations for a return to in-person voting at local elections, and for the Electoral Commission take over running and publicising local elections.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi represents over 11,000 local government workers, and has a total membership of over 96,000 people living, paying rates and voting across the country.

Currently local bodies are responsible for running their own elections, and most contract that job out to private firms.

"Private companies should not be running local body elections, it is not appropriate for something so important to the functioning of local democracy," said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.

"The Electoral Commission is publicly accountable and already has a track record for delivering Parliamentary elections, we call on central government to give the Electoral Commission this role, with the proper resourcing to do it."

"In person voting will help turn around the poor turnout rates in local elections," said Fitzsimons. "We need to see much greater participation and a more well-informed and engaged voting public."

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