Health elections may cost $8.5m

The elections for local district health boards will be a trailblazer for local body elections, even if they cost the $8.5 million estimated, says Health Minister Annette King.

Under the single transferable vote system (STV), voters will rank candidates on a ballot paper in order of preference.

The extra votes for candidates who exceed a quota, and those votes for candidates with no chance, will be redistributed according to preferences indicated on the ballot papers until the required number of positions is filled.

Annette King last week estimated the total cost of the health restructuring at $12 million, based on Treasury and Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit advice.

- NZPA