As at today there are 9 days left until the postal ballots close for local body elections throughout the country.
As with previous years the percentage of eligible voters actually casting a vote is expected to be embarrassingly low. In 2007, when we last went to the ballot to elect our local leaders, only around 40% percent of eligible voters bothered to undertake the task of ticking selected candidates from an alphabetical list, putting their selection in a freepost envelope and posting it off before the closing date.
Hardly an arduous task – so why the great disconnect?
One reason might be the sheer number of positions that are required to be filled and the numbers of people that we are required to choose from. It is all a bit overwhelming. In most regions elections are open for at least a mayor, council (usually around 10 councillors) and a district health board. Some regions also have the added responsibilities of electing Community Boards and a Licensing Trust. That can mean upwards of 30 names on one ballot paper!
Trend analysis of local body elections show that historically turnover in councils and local boards are very low. Once name recognition has been established with local constituents it is likely that voters will return a familiar name and/or face rather than elect someone that they haven’t heard of. This is of course if they decide to vote at all.
Voting becomes much more of a ‘comfort’ thing – better the devil you know (or at least know slightly more about).
Another reason for the voter disconnect could be that we just don’t care. There is a perception that policies don’t seem to matter as much in local government. Nothing however could be further from the truth.
The policies set by District/City Councils, for example, determine the provision of local infrastructure – such as roading, water, sewerage and stormwater; buildings and land use; recreational facilities; environmental safety – district emergency management, civil defence preparedness and public health inspections. Regional Councils’ responsibilities include – management of freshwater, land, air and coastal waters; mitigating soil erosion and flood control; regional land transport planning and passenger services and harbour navigation.
Admittedly none of this is particularly sexy stuff but no one can argue that the policy decisions made by local authorities are not fundamental to our public wellbeing.
Whatever the reason – 60% of us don’t feel motivated enough to vote in local elections.
Do you care?