Speed up online vote plans, says Nash

Napier MP Stuart Nash

Some Hawke's Bay electors will miss having their say in September's amalgamation referendum by being overseas and the government should speed up plans to introduce online voting, Napier MP Stuart Nash says.

The voting system for the region's amalgamation poll is outmoded and fails to cater for a number of electors who will be out of the country, from before ballot packs are posted to after September 15 when voting closes, the Labour MP says.

"I've had a number of complaints from constituents who are travelling overseas before the voting papers are sent out in late August," Mr Nash said.

There is no provision for early votes to be cast prior to voting papers being issued.

"There are people out there who are incredibly passionate about the amalgamation issue in Hawke's Bay and who simply will not be able to exercise their democratic right to cast a vote on the fate of their city," Mr Nash said.

"We should be able to cater to these people, and we can't - that's not fair, or right."

He said he would write to Local Government Minister Paula Bennett expressing his concerns and believed online voting - which would help overcome the problem - should be introduced for local government elections late next year.

Previous Napier MP and the then Local Government Minister, Chris Tremain, announced in 2013, the government would trial online voting at next year's council elections.

In May this year, the government released a set of requirements for councils interested in being part of the trial.

It is now waiting to hear back from local authorities wishing to be involved.

The move to online voting has been welcomed by the group representing the interests of councils, Local Government New Zealand, which believes it would streamline the voting process.

LGNZ president and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the move would make it easier for many people, including those with disabilities, to have their say at election time.