Online voting to be trialled at next council elections

Rotorua Lakes Council has today agreed to be part of a trial of online voting for next year's local government elections. PHOTO/ STEPHEN PARKER

Rotorua Lakes Council has today agreed to be part of a trial of online voting for next year's local government elections.

The decision was taken at a special council meeting held this morning.

The council will now confirm to the government its willingness to be part of the inaugural online voting trial. The government is then expected to select a cross-section of 10 councils from across New Zealand for the trial.

Online voting would be undertaken in tandem with the regular postal voting process.
Council Strategy and Partnership group manager, Jean-Paul Gaston, said the aim was to increase participation in voting. He said online voting would complement the council's increasing use of technology as a means of engagement with the community.

He said online voting should prove popular with rural communities and with Rotorua's large number of non-resident ratepayers living in other parts of New Zealand and overseas.

"Online voting will appeal particularly to Rotorua's younger community," Mr Gaston said.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said she would support anything that lifted participation in voting.

"Our rural community will certainly find it easier as they sometimes feel a little disconnected. I hope it will lead to a greater voting turnout."

Councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said she was pleased the council was "putting its hand up. "

"It has the real potential to change representation for Rotorua in the future."

Councillor Karen Hunt called the decision a very progressive way forward.

"It's a very progressive way forward. It's more inclusive. And it offers an opportunity to reinvigorate our democratic space," she said.

The council's share of the total $100,000 cost of the online voting trial would be approximately $45,000. Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Lakes District Health Board would share the balance of the cost as both organisations hold their elections every three years in tandem with that of Rotorua Lakes Council.