By 3 News online staff
Local Government Minister Chris Tremain is concerned voter turnout in local body elections is trending downward.
This year's local body elections are on track to receive dubious title of lowest voter turnout on record with a projected figure of 40 percent.
Final results will be confirmed by Local Government New Zealand tomorrow.
"Figures as far back as 1962 show voter turnout at local body elections are traditionally low, but I am concerned that it is on a slow decline," Mr Tremain says.
Mr Tremain will be asking the Justice and Electoral Committee to look at ways to lift voter turnout.
This could include clearing up confusion created by using two different voting systems on the same voting form.
Another issue will be the length of the current three-week voting period, he says.
Mr Tremain will also be instructing a working party to explore what would be needed to fully introduce online voting by the next local body elections in 2016.
"A large number of people work from smart phones and online voting is definitely the way of the future."
However, there are issues and risks which need to be worked through and a large-scale trial will be needed before 2016, Mr Tremain says.
The working party, which was announced before the recent local body elections, will be tasked with establishing the technical, financial, and security issues involved in online voting.
3 News
source: newshub archive
