NEW ZEALAND’S NEW BILL SEEKS TO CURB ENROLMENT FOR VOTES- AG Judith Collins says the bill is inconsistent with the country’s Bill of Rights
The New Zealand government today introduced a law that will prevent people from enrolling to vote on election day and bar prisoners from casting their ballot while in jail, in a move critics say could reduce voter participation.
The proposed law, which passed its first of three readings in parliament on Tuesday, will allow people to enrol to vote only up to 13 days before an election. Currently, potential voters can enrol up to and on election day.
The law will also ban all prisoners from voting and require voting to open 12 days ahead of the official election day.
“This bill overhauls several outdated and unsustainable electoral laws. The package of amendments will strengthen the system, helping to deliver timely election results, manage the costs, clarify rules and provide more efficient services to voters,” said Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith, who proposed the bill.
However, a report by Attorney General Judith Collins concluded that the bill “appears to be inconsistent” with the country’s Bill of Rights, including the right to freedom of expression and the right to vote.
