Electoral Officer Urges Electors To Vote

Hutt City's Electoral Officer is urging all electors to have their say in Hutt City's postal referendum on the electoral system to be used in the next two triennial local body elections.

"Notwithstanding the deeply held beliefs within the respective groups promoting FPP and STV, my main concern is that the public are able to access impartial, factual information about each system," said Mr Duncan.

"To that end one of my responsibilities is to ensure that there is clear differentiation between the publicity and information material provided by me, as Electoral Officer, and the material and advertisements emanating from the supporters of FPP and STV."

"I am satisfied that there is clear differentiation."

"I urge all voters to ensure they have their say in the referendum by completing their ballot and posting it back."

As of Friday noon, 16,300 or 24.3% of voters had cast their votes in the referendum.

"We would expect that there will be a late flurry of ballots returned and are hopeful that we can at least get around 46 per cent of the electorate to use their vote - a similar number to the percentage who voted in last year's triennial elections.

Impartial information on each electoral system was included with voting papers or by visiting www.stv.govt.nz

Voting papers must be with the Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon, Wednesday 21 May 2003.

© Scoop Media