Home » Mrs. Honor S. Hurly
Mrs. Honor S. Hurly
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Submitted on 31/05/2012 - 7:29pm relating to the issues Basis for eligibility for list seats (thresholds), By-election candidates, Dual Candidacy, Order of candidates on the list, Proportion of electorate seats to list seats, Other issues
Should the 5% threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
The 5% threshold be changed to at least 7%. This will give a better indication of the support a party has.
Should the one electorate seat threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
An electorate seat is an electorate seat, democratically elected, and should be kept. List seats of parties should be proportionally calculated on the total number of the party votes cast for the various parties.
Should there be a different combination of thresholds? What should they be and why?:
Every electorate seat overrides list seats. List seats to be calculated in proportion to the party vote, leaving the electorate seats out of the equation.
Should list MPs continue to be able to stand as candidates in by-elections? If so, why?:
Yes. Because they will have to face being genuinely elected democratically. And if they are elected, the electorate will get a better idea of their capabilitiers.
Should dual candidacy be kept? If so, why?:
No.
If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
Candidates must decide whether to stand for a seat or go on the list. It will give other candidates a chance to get elected. See below.
In an election, should voters be able to alter the order of candidates from the list order decided by political parties?:
Voters should be able to alter the order of list candidates. The political parties have already selected the candidates. As a list of list candidates is already given out with the voting papers, it should not be difficulat to print an extra one so that each voter can grade their party candiates - as few or as many as they prefer. These lists can be attached to the voting paper. The voters' grading will select which candidates sit in parliament.
If you recommend change, how should this be done?:
See above
What should happen when a party wins more electorate seats than it would be entitled to under its share of the party vote?:
Every candidate who wins an electorate seat is entitled to sit in Parliment. The seats for the list candidates will be distributed according to the proportion of party votes for each party.
Is this a problem, and what should be done to fix it?:
Electorate seats should be at least 75%. List seats limited to 25%. After all, the "listers" are not exactly elected by popular vote.
Please use the space below for any other issues you want to raise:
As the population grows other electorates can be formed and the "Lisyters" reduced in order to keep parliamentary numbers within the 120 mark. New Zealand does not want a more top-heavy parliament.