Poll on Electoral System

Electors of the Hawke’s Bay region have the right to demand a poll on the electoral system to be used for triennial general elections of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, under sections 28 and 29 of the Local Electoral Act.

The choice for local elections is between the First Past the Post (FPP) and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral systems. The Council has used First Past the Post in every election to date.

On 30 August 2017, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council resolved “to retain the status quo and continue with the First Past the Post electoral system.”  That resolution can only be countermanded by the result of a poll of Hawke’s Bay electors.

To be valid, any demand for a poll must be made in writing and be signed by not less than 5,535 electors (being 5% of the number of electors enrolled for the 8 October 2016 elections). This must be delivered to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, 159 Dalton Street, Napier.

Every elector who signs a demand must provide their full name and the address for which they are qualified as an elector of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

If a valid demand is received by 21 February 2018, the poll result will have effect for the 2019 and 2022 local authority elections; if received after 21 February 2018, the poll result would have effect for the 2022 and 2025 elections. 

For further information, please contact the Electoral Officer on (06)833 8017 or leeanne@hbrc.govt.nz.

Leeanne Hooper, Electoral Officer

19 September 2017

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