Greens Call for STV in Auckland Mayoral Race
11 October 2001
Greens Call for STV in Auckland
Mayoral Race
Metiria Turei, Green Party mayoral candidate for Auckland, is calling for a referendum on STV voting before the next local body election. An STV system would avoid the appalling possibility that Auckland’s mayor could have less than 25% of total voter support, a situation quite possible under the current First Pass the Post, (FPP) electoral system.
“The current system discourages voters,
who are being asked to vote for candidates which they do not
support." said Metiria Turei "The 'panic vote' campaign
being run by some candidates in Auckland promotes very
negative voting, encouraging people to vote against their
preferred candidate in many cases. STV and preferential
voting
promotes positive voting and ensures that the
majority of votes will support the eventual mayor" she
continued.
The Green Party have been promoting STV and preferential voting for local body elections under the Local Electoral Act, passed earlier this year.
The Act allows Councils and communities to decide to use STV and preferential voting instead of FPP. Councils can either resolve to change or hold a referendum of local voters. The community can also petition the council by gathering signatories from 5% of voters to force a referendum
The Auckland mayoralty race has been soured by accusations of vote splitting on the left, leaving many Aucklanders fearful that the right wing candidate, John Banks, may take office even though he would only be supported by a a small minority of the eligible voters in the city.
"The FPP
system does not support or value voter choice to the extent
demanded by an increasingly sophisticated voter. Voters
have a real difficulty voting for issues under FPP. The
Greens are committed to Positive Politics which focuses on
issues not personalities. But an FPP environment does not
support the issues-based campaigns sought by voters. This
2001 Auckland mayoral race starkly illustrates the need for
a new style of political approach, an approach supported and
conducted by the Greens. The STV system would eliminate much
of the 'vote-splitting' issues that currently dog the
Auckland mayoral race" said Metiria Turei, Green Party
mayoral candidate. END