The Wanganui District Council should have made a change to how names are listed on voting papers when they had an opportunity in February.
Dunedin City Council this week had the mettle to make the change, which makes for a more equitable system when it comes to listing candidates. Instead ofalphabetical listing, names will be listed on the ballot paper randomly.
Results from studies show candidates get a boost to their popularity of anywhere from one per cent to six per cent if their name is at the top end of the list.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has said he would find it unethical not to vote for change given the position of his surname. His scrupulous stance has not met support from all quarters; Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt said with many of his councillors having surnames beginning with the first five letters of the alphabet, wouldn't it be akin to a turkey voting for Christmas?
Mayor Cull also saw the funny side - noting that Aaron Aardvark had just texted to say he would not be standing for council. But he was adamant that randomly-ordered ballot papers were fairer, and so was his council.
For all us on the lower rung of life, alphabetically speaking, who have put up with that interminable wait for our turn, -the below-the-M designation disadvantaged - we salute you, Dunedin City Council.
