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Democracy in action as local voting documents hit mailboxes
14 September 2016
Democracy in action as local voting documents hit mailboxes from Friday
In a country like New Zealand, democracy for many of us is something we take for granted and only registers every three years when there is a national or local body election.
Tomorrow marks the United Nations’ 8th International Day of Democracy and the following day, Friday 16 September, the Electoral Office will begin distributing more than one million voting documents to Aucklanders so they can participate in the local body elections.
For half the world’s population democracy does not exist. Only 15 per cent of countries enjoy full democracy while nearly a third of the world’s nations are ruled by authoritarian regimes.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index ranks New Zealand as the fifth most democratic country in the world while the OECD has us ranked in seventh spot.
Yet every three years Aucklanders struggle to engage with their local democracy and exercise their right to shape their city’s future. Auckland generates more than one third of the country’s GDP and that means what happens here affects the prosperity of everyone.
“Everyone has a role to play in influencing decisions that affect them, their children and their futures, says Marguerite Delbet, Auckland Council’s General Manager, Democracy Services .
In the 2013 local elections the reported voter turnout by 18-24 year olds was at 29 per cent. By comparison Aucklanders aged 35-44 had a reported 51per cent turn out, increasing to a 91per cent for those surveyed aged 65 years and older.
“The challenge in 2016 is to lift those voter numbers, says Ms Delbet. “This is not about the rest of the country, this is about your neighborhood, the one you live in every day. In the spirit of International Democracy Day, we want all Aucklanders to show their love for their little corner of the world and vote”.
Look out for the arrival of your voting document and candidate information booklet in your letter box, from this Friday 16 September to Wednesday 21 September.
ENDS
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