KEY POINTS:
The National Party has launched a campaign to improve the way district health boards are elected.
Health spokesman Tony Ryall said today only 36 per cent of voters returned valid papers in last year's elections.
His figures showed 1.2 million papers were returned nationwide but 100,000 were declared "informal" because people had not used the STV voting system correctly and another 110,000 were blank.
"After subtracting invalid and blank DHB ballot papers, only 36 per cent of Kiwis cast a vote that counted," he said.
"This compared to 40 per cent in 2004 and 46 per cent in 2001."
Mr Ryall said people were either confused or frustrated, and National wanted feedback from the public on ways to improve the elections.
"We need to do better," he said.
"If people can't make their views known then democracy - and health - is poorer for that."
- NZPA
