Dr Malini Yugendran
Auckland, March 14, 2023
In the 2020 New Zealand general election, there was a high voter turnout of 82%, demonstrating the significance of democracy to Kiwis. This underscores the importance of voting, as it allows citizens to influence their country’s governance and shape its future.
The October 2023 elections offer another opportunity for citizens to participate and make their voices heard. Indian Newslink spoke to three politicians of the Labour Party, National Party and ACT Party about why people should vote in the coming elections.
Vote to have a say
Phil Twyford, Labour Party’s Member of Parliament for Te Atatu, highlighted the importance of voting, “If you do not vote, other people will – and they, not you, will influence the decisions that affect you and affect the country.” He cited the example of housing policies, which he said were for a long time made in the interests of homeowners and the well-off, locking young people and renters out of home ownership. Mr Twyford said, “If young people and renters want more affordable housing they need to vote for parties and policies that will achieve that.”
Mr Twyford cited climate change as an example. “If young people do not vote, we are less likely to get the policies the planet desperately needs to reduce emissions and protect humanity from the coming climate emergency.”
National’s former List MP who is contesting in the 2023 elections, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, emphasised that voting is a civic duty and a fundamental right. He said, “when people choose not to vote, they are essentially giving up their say in the democratic process and allowing others to make decisions on their behalf. This can lead to outcomes that do not reflect the people’s will.” He emphasised that elections are not just about individuals or parties but about issues that affect society.
Party Leader of ACT New Zealand and Member of Parliament, Epsom, David Seymour said, “If you do not vote other people will. History shows they will vote to take your money and make you follow bureaucratic rules, if they can. People who want a society where you are free to choose and responsible for your choices need to be heard by casting their vote.”
Mr Seymour highlighted that voting is a way to ensure that our values are heard in the national debate. “The purpose of an election is not to elect a Government. It is to elect a Parliament. Even if your party does not become part of the Government, you are still helping elect members of Parliament to ensure your values are heard in the national debate,” he said.
Is the Election predetermined?
Mr Twyford said, “our MMP voting system often produces very close results. Sometimes even a small number of votes can swing an election outcome and decide who gets to form a government,” he said. He added, “every election there are one or two MPs who get elected with a majority of only a handful of votes. Your vote could make the difference.”
(MMP is the Mixed Member Proportional voting system, where voters have two votes: one for a local candidate and one for a political party. The number of seats a party gets in Parliament reflects the percentage of party votes they receive nationwide and in individual electorates, encouraging cooperation between parties to form a stable government. Introduced in 1996, MMP has been used in every election since.)
Mr Bakshi added, “even when one candidate or party is heavily favoured, knowing what will happen is impossible until all the votes are counted.” He said, “elections are not just about who wins and who loses, but also about sending a message to elected officials and the broader community about what issues and values matter to the electorate.”
Mr Seymour stressed that the purpose of voting is to ensure that our values are heard in the national debate. “Even if your preferred party does not win the election, every vote still counts,” he said.
Encouraging young people to vote
Mr Twyford emphasised the importance of engaging with young people and discussing the issues that matter to them. “We need to listen to young people and provide them with opportunities to participate in the democratic process,” he said. He believes that young people are often passionate about issues such as climate change, inequality, and affordable housing and that political parties need to offer policies that address these issues which will encourage more young people to vote.
Mr Bakshi emphasised the need for education and outreach to young people. He said, “we need to educate people on the importance of voting, simplify the registration process, provide early voting options, use social media to engage young people, and emphasise the power of collective action.” Mr Bakshi said that these steps can help ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to shape the future of our country.
Mr Seymour concluded that political parties need to be more inclusive and representative of the young.
In New Zealand, the process of voting is relatively straightforward. First, you need to be enrolled on the electoral roll, which you can do online, by mail, or in person at an electoral office. Once enrolled, you will receive a voting pack in the mail ahead of the election, which will include your ballot paper and instructions on how to vote.
Dr Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
