Today is the deadline for those who wish to appear in person before the Electoral Commission to send in their submissions on its review of the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) Electoral System. If you do not wish to appear in person, then you can still send in a written submission up until the end of May. The recommendations the Electoral Commission makes to the Government may or may not be adopted, but they will at a minimum ensure a debate on their recommendations. Some of the issues they will consider could have a significant impact on what Parliament and Governments will look like in the future.
One controversial issue is whether an aspiring MP can be both an electorate candidate and a list candidate. Many people have complained that they don’t like defeated electorate candidates still becoming an MP through the party list, and then acting as a shadow electorate MP. However banning dual candidacies would mean that party lists would have few senior MPs on them, as most senior MPs hold electorate seats.
Political parties like dual candidacies as it incentivises electorate candidates to also campaign for the party vote. It also allows them to protect MPs they do not wish to lose. Another key issue is whether the party vote threshold of 5% should be changed. Some advocate there should be no threshold, so that any party that gains enough votes for even one seat should make it into Parliament.
Full Article: David Farrar: The future of MMP – Politics – NZ Herald News.