Are you prepared to make a choice for your city’s future?
Here is some information about the Auckland Council elections that will get under way later this month: how they work and how you can vote. Though not comprehensive, it has most of the details that you need to know as a voter. This is your chance to carefully consider who you want to represent your and your community’s interests in the new supercity.
Auckland's local government elections in 2010 are dramatically different to any that have taken place before. Whether as a candidate, supporting a candidate or by voting, you have the opportunity to take an active role in choosing the representatives who will help shape Auckland's future.
One unitary council, one mayor, 20 councillors representing 13 wards, 149 local board members representing 21 local board areas: by taking part in these elections, you can make a difference for yourself and your community.
The mayor leads the team of 20 councillors on the governing body, representing Auckland residents. It is their role to make the decisions about region-wide issues, decide policy, decide and approve budgets and develop the council’s strategic direction to help Auckland grow and develop.
The mayor and councillors will also develop the council’s Long Term Council Community Plan and Annual Plan.
Local government elections, which are held every three years, are all by postal vote.
How the voting works
In mid-September, please look out for your voting pack. This will contain your voting document and information about the candidates standing in your area, as well as an orange envelope to send your vote back in.
Voters in Auckland will be using two different systems to vote for their preferred candidates. Elections for the governing body of Auckland Council, local boards and, if you have one, the licensing trusts are carried out using the 'first past the post' (FPP) system. The district health board elections are conducted using the 'single transferable voting' (STV) system.
First past the post: As its name suggests, the FPP electoral system is about the person with the highest number of votes (getting first past the winning post) being elected.
This is a very simple method of electing candidates and is widely used throughout the world. While it is simple, some people believe it doesn't always reflect the majority of the voters' wishes. This can happen when the winning candidate receives more votes than any other single candidate, but fewer than all the other candidates put together. Therefore it could be said the results did not accurately reflect the voters' wishes.
Single transferable voting: This system is easy to follow when you think of it as simply deciding which candidates you prefer most, and putting them in a numbered priority list.
So, instead of ticking the candidates you want to vote for, you number the candidates in order of preference. Put a "1" beside the candidate you like best, then a "2" beside your second choice, "3" by your third choice, and so on. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you like.
By giving the number "1" to a candidate, you are saying that the candidate is your number one choice.
By ranking candidates in your preferred order - 1,2,3,4 and so on - you are also saying which other candidates you prefer:
* If your top choice doesn't have enough support to get in, or * If your top choice doesn't need all the votes they received to be elected.
How to vote
When you vote for your preferred candidates put your voting document in the orange return envelope and post it by Wednesday, October 6, 2010. By voting you will make a real contribution to Auckland's future direction.
Some time between September 17 and 22 you should receive your voting pack, which will include your actual voting document, as well as background information about the candidates for mayor, your ward and local board, district health board and, if you have one, a licensing trust.
Once you've decided which candidates you want to vote for, you need to complete the voting document, seal it in the return, postage-paid orange envelope and post or deliver it to the electoral officer.
Be sure to post it by 5pm, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 to guarantee delivery before voting closes.
If you want to be sure your vote gets in on time, you can hand-deliver your document to:
The Electoral Office, Level 8, 92 Albert Street, Auckland
Franklin District Council, 82 Manukau Road, Pukekohe
Manukau City Council, 31-33 Wiri Station Road, Manukau
North Shore City Council, Level 3, 1 The Strand, Takapuna
Papakura District Council, 35 Coles Crescent, Papakura
Rodney District Council, Centreway Road, Orewa
Waitakere City Council, 6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson
On election day, you can also return your votes to any of Auckland's public libraries.
Special votes
There are some times when people need to cast a special vote:
* If your name isn't on the final electoral roll but you still qualify as an elector (such as if you've just turned 18 years of age)
* If you haven't received your voting document that has been posted to you
* If you have spoilt or damaged your voting document.
If you need a special vote because you're not on the roll, then you need to enrol by 8 October 2010. You can get a registration application from any New Zealand Post Shop, phone 0800 36 76 56, or on the Electoral Enrolment Centre website.
If you want to make a special vote (you'll need to make a statutory declaration), the documents can be posted directly to you, or you can pick them up from existing council offices or phone (09) 973 5212 or 0800 922 822.
As with ordinary voting documents, they must be returned to the electoral officer by noon on 9 October 2010, or to any of the existing council offices.
Results
Progress and preliminary results will be announced as soon as possible afternoon on Saturday, October 9. The official results will be announced when special votes have been checked, but in the week of October 11-15.
Auckland election schedule
17 -22 September: Voting documents are delivered
17 September - 9 October: Progressive roll scrutiny, Special voting period, Early processing of returned votes
9 October: Election day. Voting closes at noon and counting starts
14 - 20 October: Results are declared and publicly notified
Source: Auckland Council. More information: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
Here is some information about the Auckland Council elections that will get under way later this month: how they work and how you can vote. Though not comprehensive, it has most of the details that you need to know as a voter. This is your chance to carefully consider who you want to represent...
Here is some information about the Auckland Council elections that will get under way later this month: how they work and how you can vote. Though not comprehensive, it has most of the details that you need to know as a voter. This is your chance to carefully consider who you want to represent your and your community’s interests in the new supercity.
Auckland's local government elections in 2010 are dramatically different to any that have taken place before. Whether as a candidate, supporting a candidate or by voting, you have the opportunity to take an active role in choosing the representatives who will help shape Auckland's future.
One unitary council, one mayor, 20 councillors representing 13 wards, 149 local board members representing 21 local board areas: by taking part in these elections, you can make a difference for yourself and your community.
The mayor leads the team of 20 councillors on the governing body, representing Auckland residents. It is their role to make the decisions about region-wide issues, decide policy, decide and approve budgets and develop the council’s strategic direction to help Auckland grow and develop.
The mayor and councillors will also develop the council’s Long Term Council Community Plan and Annual Plan.
Local government elections, which are held every three years, are all by postal vote.
How the voting works
In mid-September, please look out for your voting pack. This will contain your voting document and information about the candidates standing in your area, as well as an orange envelope to send your vote back in.
Voters in Auckland will be using two different systems to vote for their preferred candidates. Elections for the governing body of Auckland Council, local boards and, if you have one, the licensing trusts are carried out using the 'first past the post' (FPP) system. The district health board elections are conducted using the 'single transferable voting' (STV) system.
First past the post: As its name suggests, the FPP electoral system is about the person with the highest number of votes (getting first past the winning post) being elected.
This is a very simple method of electing candidates and is widely used throughout the world. While it is simple, some people believe it doesn't always reflect the majority of the voters' wishes. This can happen when the winning candidate receives more votes than any other single candidate, but fewer than all the other candidates put together. Therefore it could be said the results did not accurately reflect the voters' wishes.
Single transferable voting: This system is easy to follow when you think of it as simply deciding which candidates you prefer most, and putting them in a numbered priority list.
So, instead of ticking the candidates you want to vote for, you number the candidates in order of preference. Put a "1" beside the candidate you like best, then a "2" beside your second choice, "3" by your third choice, and so on. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you like.
By giving the number "1" to a candidate, you are saying that the candidate is your number one choice.
By ranking candidates in your preferred order - 1,2,3,4 and so on - you are also saying which other candidates you prefer:
* If your top choice doesn't have enough support to get in, or * If your top choice doesn't need all the votes they received to be elected.
How to vote
When you vote for your preferred candidates put your voting document in the orange return envelope and post it by Wednesday, October 6, 2010. By voting you will make a real contribution to Auckland's future direction.
Some time between September 17 and 22 you should receive your voting pack, which will include your actual voting document, as well as background information about the candidates for mayor, your ward and local board, district health board and, if you have one, a licensing trust.
Once you've decided which candidates you want to vote for, you need to complete the voting document, seal it in the return, postage-paid orange envelope and post or deliver it to the electoral officer.
Be sure to post it by 5pm, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 to guarantee delivery before voting closes.
If you want to be sure your vote gets in on time, you can hand-deliver your document to:
The Electoral Office, Level 8, 92 Albert Street, Auckland
Franklin District Council, 82 Manukau Road, Pukekohe
Manukau City Council, 31-33 Wiri Station Road, Manukau
North Shore City Council, Level 3, 1 The Strand, Takapuna
Papakura District Council, 35 Coles Crescent, Papakura
Rodney District Council, Centreway Road, Orewa
Waitakere City Council, 6 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson
On election day, you can also return your votes to any of Auckland's public libraries.
Special votes
There are some times when people need to cast a special vote:
* If your name isn't on the final electoral roll but you still qualify as an elector (such as if you've just turned 18 years of age)
* If you haven't received your voting document that has been posted to you
* If you have spoilt or damaged your voting document.
If you need a special vote because you're not on the roll, then you need to enrol by 8 October 2010. You can get a registration application from any New Zealand Post Shop, phone 0800 36 76 56, or on the Electoral Enrolment Centre website.
If you want to make a special vote (you'll need to make a statutory declaration), the documents can be posted directly to you, or you can pick them up from existing council offices or phone (09) 973 5212 or 0800 922 822.
As with ordinary voting documents, they must be returned to the electoral officer by noon on 9 October 2010, or to any of the existing council offices.
Results
Progress and preliminary results will be announced as soon as possible afternoon on Saturday, October 9. The official results will be announced when special votes have been checked, but in the week of October 11-15.
Auckland election schedule
17 -22 September: Voting documents are delivered
17 September - 9 October: Progressive roll scrutiny, Special voting period, Early processing of returned votes
9 October: Election day. Voting closes at noon and counting starts
14 - 20 October: Results are declared and publicly notified
Source: Auckland Council. More information: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
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