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Electoral System and the Opportunity to Change It

Electoral System

Council undertook a Electoral System Review in 2017. The next required review is due in 2023 for the 2025 and 2028 Local Government Elections.

Ruapehu District Council currently operates its elections under the “Single Transferable Vote” system (STV) as permitted under the Local Electoral Act 2001. Electors vote by ranking the candidates in order of preference. The number of votes required for a candidate to be elected (called the quota) depends on the number of positions to be filled and the number of valid votes.

The necessary number of candidates to fill all vacancies is achieved:

  • First by the counting of first preferences.
  • Then by a transfer of a proportion of votes received by any candidate where the number of votes for that candidate is in excess of the quota.
  • Then by the exclusion of the lowest polling candidates and the transfer of these votes in accordance with voters second preference.

The alternative is the “First Past the Post” (FPP) system. Electors vote by indicating their most preferred candidate(s), and the candidate that receives the most votes is declared elected regardless of the proportion of total number of votes that the candidate has obtained.

Changing the Electoral System

On 30 August 2017, Council resolved to use the “Single Transferable Vote” system for the 2019 and 2022 Local Government Elections. In accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001, this decision continues in effect until either a further resolution takes effect, or a poll of electors takes effect.

Council can resolve to change the electoral system to be used at the 2025 and 2028 Local Government Elections or conduct a binding poll on the question, or electors can demand a binding poll.

Council must, not later than 19 September in the year that is two years before the year in which the next triennial Local Government Elections is to be held, give public notice of the right to demand a poll on the electoral system to be used for the elections of the local authority and its community boards.

A poll can be initiated by at least five per cent of electors signing a petition demanding that a poll be held. Once changed, an electoral system must be used for at least the next two triennial general elections, i.e., Council cannot change its electoral system for one election and then change back for the next election.

As of 27 August 2022, the number of electors for the Ruapehu District was 8,451, comprising of:

  • 76 Nominees
  • 34 Ratepayers, and
  • 8,341 Residential Electors.
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