Editorial: Callout to vote in local elections

Digital Online Vote Democracy Politcs Election Government Concep WGP 11Feb16 - WGP 11Feb16 -

LOCAL Government New Zealand has launched a campaign to increase voter turnout at local body elections, and it is a campaign the Chronicle is happy to support.

Whanganui has an important election in October when a new mayor and new district council will be chosen. The chosen ones will guide the direction of our district for three years, so it is imperative people make their views known at the ballot box and the right people get the nod.

Yet, Whanganui - like all councils in New Zealand - is battling apathy among those enrolled to vote. In 2007, 63 per cent of the electorate bothered to tick the boxes; at the last election, in 2013, that number was down to 58 per cent. Still, that is above a dismal national average of just 41.3 per cent.

It is true older folk tend to value the ballot box, while younger ones feel less inclined, and a number of remedies have been put forward. One theory is introducing online voting will encourage younger people to participate, and Whanganui District Council has indicated a willingness to be part of an online voting trial pencilled in for October. Two issues here - the theory is unproven, and the online voting trial is estimated to cost $75,000 to those councils that stick their hands up.

Our council should certainly be looking for ways to get the electorate to the polls - but not at any cost.

While we might proudly proclaim ourselves to be at the leading edge of digital innovation, there is no room for expensive vanity projects.

The district, as we all know, already faces some severe financial pressure, and ratepayers should not be asked to stump up an extra $75,000 in a trial which central government should fund, testing something that will almost certainly be the norm in a few years

Yes, let's encourage people to cast their vote, let's look to get them aware of and involved in the critical local issues - and councillors can play their part without dipping into ratepayers' pockets.

How good it is to see some of our elected representatives out and about, engaging with community and being proactive about making our district a better place.

And how disappointing it is some of them seem to limit their involvement to monthly meetings round the council table and, otherwise, barely register on the public radar.