Time running out to have your say

If you want to have a say about the MMP voting system review, you better be quick because the deadline is looming.

This Friday marks the end of public consultation on the Electoral Commission's MMP Review Proposals Paper.

More than 700 submissions have been received on the Proposals Paper, which details the Commission's suggestions on possible improvements to New Zealand's MMP voting system.

The Electoral Commission's suggested changes are: 
 

• The one electorate seat threshold for the allocation of list seats should be abolished.
• The party vote threshold for the allocation of list seats should be lowered to 4 per cent.
• Candidates should continue to be able to stand both in an electorate and on a party list at general elections.
• List MPs should continue to be able to contest by-elections.  
• Political parties should continue to have responsibility for the composition and ranking of candidates on their party lists.
• The provision for overhang seats should be abolished for parties that do not cross the party vote threshold.
• On the basis of current information it would be prudent to identify 76 electorate seats (in a 120 seat Parliament) as the point at which the risk to proportionality from insufficient list seats becomes unacceptable. New Zealand is unlikely to reach that point before 2026.
• The gradual erosion of lists seats relative to electorate seats risks undermining the diversity of representation in Parliament. Parliament should review this matter.

Submissions on the proposals can be made via post, email, or online and must be received by September 7.

Submissions can also be made on the Proposals Paper itself. Public hearings will not be held.

All the information you need is on the website www.mmpreview.org.nz or freephone 0800 36 76 56 to have a Proposals Paper sent to you.

A final report will be presented to the Minister of Justice by 31 October.