Stratford District Council will retain the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system for the 2022 triennial election, unless members of the public demand otherwise.
FPP has been used by Stratford District Council for many years and has been by the majority of councils across New Zealand in past elections.
In the last triennial elections, which took place in 2019, 67 of 78 local authorities used the FPP system. This year some councils, including Hamilton, Gisborne and Nelson, have voted to change to the Single Transferable Voting electoral system, (STV). New Plymouth also uses the STV system, as does the Taranaki District Health Board.
The decision to retain the FPP system for the Stratford District can be overturned if 5 or more per cent of enrolled electors demand a poll be held. Any such poll demand would have to be received by council by February 21 next year to be binding for the 2022 local election.
A report asking councillors to consider the district's electoral system and representation arrangement was presented to elected members at the August policy and services meeting.