Local Electoral Amendment Bill

1. Title

This Act is the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2020.

2. Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3. Principal Act

This Act amends the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the principal Act).

4. Section 3 amended (Purpose)

In section 3, paragraph (c )(i) is repealed.

5. Section 5 amended (Interpretation)

In section 5, replace the definition of electoral system with the following

electoral system means the system commonly known as Single Transferable Voting (STV) using the New Zealand method of counting single transferable votes In section 5, the definition of First Past the Post is repealed.

6. Section 5A repealed (General description of First Past the Post electoral system)

Section 5A is repealed.

7. New Section 26A inserted

After section 26, the following new section 26A is inserted:

26A. Electoral system used for local elections

The electoral system used to elect members of local authorities, community boards and local boards is the Single Transferable Voting electoral system.

8. Sections 27-34 repealed

Sections 27-34 are repealed.

9. Section 75 amended (What voting documents for election must contain)

In section 75, paragraph (b) is repealed.

10. Section 88B repealed (Amended declaration if election under First Past the Post electoral system)

Section 88B is repealed.

General Policy Statement: This bill would require councils to use STV to elect councillors. Currently councils can choose between FPTP and STV.

B.1085 - Local Electoral Amendment Bill was authored by /u/forgottomentionpeter (Independent) and is sponsored by the Minister of Internal Affairs, /u/model-frod (Labour), on behalf of the government.

Committee will conclude at 11:59PM NZT 14/08/2021.