Thames Coromandel: STV is first past the post

A majority of Thames Coromandel District Council voters chose STV in their referendum on the local voting system, which closed at midday today.

"We’re pleased that TCDC voters have joined with Wellington City and Dunedin City voters in choosing STV," said Lynne Serpe, national STV coordinator. “We're thrilled that we can now add another provincial district council to those who decided to switch to STV on their own."

"I think most Thames Coromandel voters recognised it will be much easier next year to have just one system for local council and District Health Board elections,” said local campaign coordinator Fred Look.

"Ranking candidates in order of preference is such a fair and easy way to vote," said Anne Makinson, a local resident who gathered most of the signatures needed to force the poll.

"This now brings the total number of voters scheduled to use STV for all local body elections close to 400,000," continued Ms. Serpe. "And, of course, everyone in the country will be using STV to elect the District Health Boards."

The results of the Napier City poll, which also closed at midday today, are not yet available.

There are an additional three referenda still to be decided in the next few days: Tasman District Council (21 May), Opotiki District Council (20 May) and Hutt City Council (21 May).

Besides Wellington and Dunedin, where voters chose STV in a local poll, there are seven councils which voted to switch on their own: Porirua City, Kapiti Coast, Marlborough, Papakura, Kaipara, Chatham Islands, and Matamata-Piako.

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