MMP voting system explained

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The mysteries of the MMP voting system are to be revealed to new voters or anybody curious about the upcoming general election.

MMP (Mixed Member Proportional representation) has been the electoral system used in parliamentary elections since 1996.

But many voters are still unsure of how MMP works so Whangarei Citizens Advice Bureau is holding a workshop on the issue on September 16, from 10am to 11am, at the Ratu Room at Manaia PHO, 28-30 Rust Ave.

The bureau is targeting new migrants who want to know if they are eligible to vote and how the two-vote system works.

Bureau co-ordinator Moea Armstrong says the "civics" talk will be of value to anyone who still struggles with how the voting system works. First-time voters are also encouraged to attend.

Members of the bureau's settlement team will be on hand to answer questions in several languages.

Some of the questions to be covered include: Am I eligible to vote, can I still enrol, can I split my vote between different parties, when and where do I vote, what's the 5 per cent threshold, what's coat-tailing, what's the "overhang" and which vote is the stronger?

Each voter gets two votes under MMP. The first is for the political party the voter chooses - the "party vote" - that largely decides the total number of seats each political party gets in Parliament.

The second is to choose the MP the voter wants to represent the electorate they live in.

This is called the electorate vote.