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Jack Thomas
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Submitted on 21/02/2012 - 5:24pm relating to the issues Basis for eligibility for list seats (thresholds), By-election candidates, Dual Candidacy, Order of candidates on the list, Overhang, Proportion of electorate seats to list seats
Should the 5% threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
The 5% threshold should be changed to 3%. If 3% or more of voters cast their votes for a particular party, this is a sufficient number of votes to justify the party being represented in Parliament with the approriate number of seats to match the percentage of votes.
Should the one electorate seat threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
The electorate seat threshold should be abandoned. A party should get no list seats unless it gets 3% or more of the party vote. The farcical situation that has occurred in the Epsom and Ohariu electorates, where the National Party has told its supporters to vote for another party's candidate, must not be allowed to contuinue.
Should there be a different combination of thresholds? What should they be and why?:
No, there should be just one threshold.
Should list MPs continue to be able to stand as candidates in by-elections? If so, why?:
No, list MPs should not be able to stand as candidates in by-elections.
If not, why?:
List MPs would have an unfair advantage over candidates who are not already in Parliament. If they want to stand as a candidate in a constituency, they should wait until the next general election.
Should dual candidacy be kept? If so, why?:
Although I am a little uncomfortable with electorate candidates also being on a Party list, I believe it is better than not allowing dual candidacy, which is likey to have the effect of lowering the calibre of MPs. There is no strong case for denying the right of electorate candidates to be placed on their party's list. One of the main strong points of MMP is that we can have a party vote and an electorate vote, and I see no reason why a candidate can't be involved in both. Smaller parties would be severely disadvantaged if dual candidacy was abolished.
In an election, should voters be able to alter the order of candidates from the list order decided by political parties?:
No. How can voters be expected to know everyone on all the party lists to make a proper judgement. It would be chaotic and unfair. However, if I was a paid-up member of a political party, I would like to have a say in the order of my political party's list. If a voter is very unhappy with the party list of a particular party, they are able to vote for a different party.
What should happen when a party wins more electorate seats than it would be entitled to under its share of the party vote?:
I don't see this as a big issue. I would be happy to have an overhang if it should occur. I believe we should keep the status quo.
Is this a problem, and what should be done to fix it?:
It is not really a problem at the moment. If in the future the number of electorates is increased, I would like to see some method devised so that we do not have to increase the number of list MPs.
Please use the space below for any other issues you want to raise:
Although this is not a MMP issue, I strongly believe that General Elections should be held every four years.