An appeal to all New Zealanders to vote in the current general election
Venkat Raman
Auckland, October 12, 2023
New Zealand goes to the polls on October 14, 2023 to elect representatives to the 54th Parliament, who will, over the next three years conduct the affairs of the State, consider and pass legislation based on the will of the people.
According to the Electoral Commission, 567 candidates representing 19 political parties are in the race to Parliament, although not all of them will poll at least 5% of the total votes polled, the threshold required for allotment of seats.
More than 20 years ago we we created Electionlink pages to allow candidates, their supporters and political parties to have their say without reservation, and more importantly, for ordinary New Zealanders to voice their concerns so that they could be heard in the right places, leading to the right action. As well as hosting Electionlink evenings for Labour and National, this year, we hosted separate dinner meetings for ACT as well as New Zealand First, each of these providing opportunities for Leaders to propagate their policies and introduce their candidates and for the people to get to know them.
The knowledge and expertise of the Diaspora in public affairs and administration will be of immense help in the democratic process, which is the essence of our general elections held every three years.
Improved voting facilities
You can now find your closest voting place online at vote.nz with the Electoral Commission publishing information about the 2600 places where New Zealanders can exercise their franchise.
Deputy Chief Executive Operations Anusha Guler said that the Electoral Commission has worked with communities to have voting places in spaces that are easy to access.
“People will see voting places in and around the spaces where we all live and work, including malls and retail areas, transport hubs, marae, mosques, universities, schools, and community halls. If you enrolled before writ day on 10 September, you will be sent an EasyVote pack in the mail, which will contain your nearest voting locations, key information about the election and an EasyVote card that will make voting quicker and easier,” she said.
People who are not enrolled can still do so online or at any of the voting places.
More than 800 voting places are now open and more than 2300 centres will be open on October 14.
Please check for more information on 0800-367656.
Kaupapa Māori, Signage Voting
There will be 15 Kaupapa Māori voting places where staff can help people through the voting process in te reo Māori. The Kaupapa Māori voting places are open to everyone, and staff will speak both te reo Māori and English. As well as the Kaupapa Māori voting places, there will be 37 voting places at marae this election.
Ms Guler said that there will be three voting places with New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters, one each located in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Democracy under threat
Does New Zealand face challenges to its Democracy?
Of course, it does. Democracy needs oxygen. Over the years, people’s disillusionment with democracy has contributed to voter apathy. The volume of discussion in recent times in international magazines suggests that we have to positively respond to this environment or lose the argument by default in favour of systems that have superficial appeal, lack a substantial foundation and have no real evidence of working.
We believe that the solution to better administration rests on ‘double devolution,’ pushing more resources and responsibility for running things from central to local government and from town halls to an amorphous web of charities and voluntary associations.
This is a veritable chance that should not be lost.
New Zealanders must make a clear and decisive choice and hold those elected to account. They must be forced to perform.
This is the time for action. We must exercise our franchise and ensure that only those who deserve to be in public office are elected.
