Online voting trials are looking increasingly unlikely to take place at October’s local body elections in Palmerston North, Whanganui and six other centres. The Department of Internal Affairs will only say a decision is expected to be announced “shortly”. But at least one Palmerston North City councillor is concerned that with six months to go, time is running out. The council has set aside $100,000 in the budget included in its proposed Annual Plan that is out for consultation. Cr Aleisha Rutherford, who pushed for Palmerston North to sign up for the online trial, said councillors were telling residents who asked in discussions about the Annual Plan that it was “highly unlikely” the money would be spent.
“Nothing is official, but it’s really disappointing. “It’s been left so late, I would be surprised if it could go ahead now.” She said it would have been a good opportunity for Palmerston North to show some leadership.
It would have tied in well with Local Government New Zealand’s campaign to increase voter turnout.
Mayor Grant Smith, however, said hope remained that the trial would go ahead, and if councillors were telling people it might not happen they were expressing their own opinion, not the council’s.
Full Article: Time is running out for go-ahead for online voting trials | Stuff.co.nz.