Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Electoral system review recommends voting age lowered to 16, party threshold to 3.5% [New Zealand]
www.rnz.co.nz ^ | 9:10 am on 6 June 2023 | Anneke Smith, Political reporter

Posted on 06/06/2023 11:55:07 AM PDT by Red Badger

A sweeping review into the country's electoral system is recommending the voting age be lowered to 16, a 3.5 per cent party threshold, and a public referendum on a longer Parliamentary term.

An independent panel of experts has been considering public submissions on nearly every aspect of electoral law, commissioned by former Justice Minister Kris Faafoi in May last year.

After 58 public meetings and more than 1700 submissions it is now reporting a swathe of draft recommendations to make electoral laws 'fairer, clearer and more accessible'.

"There have been piecemeal changes to electoral law over many years, including some recently, but this review is an opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture," panel chair Deborah Hart said.

The draft recommendations include:

Lowering the voting age for general elections to 16 and extend overseas voting rules

Extending voting rights to all prisoners, not just those sentenced to less than a three-year jail term

Holding a referendum on extending the Parliamentary term from three to four years

Lowering the party vote threshold from 5 to 3.5 per cent and abolishing the coat-tail rule

Restricting political donations to registered voters, rather than organisations, and capping them at $30,000 to each party and its candidates per electoral cycle while reducing the amount that can be anonymously donated

Rewriting the Electoral Act to modernise its language (e.g. eliminating references to faxes)

Requiring the Electoral Commission to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi.

The interim report will undergo a second round of public consultation until 17 July before the panel hands the final copy to the government at the end of November.

(Excerpt) Read more at rnz.co.nz ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: childhood; marxism; newzealand; socialism; transagenda
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

1 posted on 06/06/2023 11:55:07 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

it should be raised to 30 here. Young people are to programmed to think for themselves, some may have wised up by 30


2 posted on 06/06/2023 11:57:24 AM PDT by BigFreakinToad (Biden whispered "Don't Jump")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BigFreakinToad

Lower the voting age to 16, they should lower the drinking age, the age to enter into legal contracts, and the age of military service to 16.

New Zealand is like Australia in that they have MANDATORY voting. If you don’t cast a ballot, you are subject to a fine.


3 posted on 06/06/2023 12:00:19 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

>>Extending voting rights to all prisoners,

Odd how that part got left out of the headline.


4 posted on 06/06/2023 12:04:24 PM PDT by vikingd00d (chown -R us ~you/base)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Oops, my Google-fu failed me. New Zealand does NOT have compulsory voting.


5 posted on 06/06/2023 12:05:07 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

just think, no more “boys” going to juvenile court when they commit murder....they vote, they can go to adult prison.


6 posted on 06/06/2023 12:06:54 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

That is a smart idea. Get them to vote while they know everything.


7 posted on 06/06/2023 12:10:46 PM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Allowing young skulls full of mush who don’t pay taxes to vote is probably about the dumbest thing any country can do. If children aren’t responsible enough to buy a gun, they sure as hell aren’t responsible to choose who is going to run the country.


8 posted on 06/06/2023 12:12:03 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The southern invasion has been a big success. Foreigner invaders are running the government now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

If they can vote, they can serve in the military...................


9 posted on 06/06/2023 12:14:08 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Voting age should be 35 unless you own real property. Military, healthcare providers, fire/police, and other legitimate first responders can vote at age 21.


10 posted on 06/06/2023 12:16:10 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

Permanent Democratic rule letting 16 yo vote.


11 posted on 06/06/2023 12:17:54 PM PDT by BigFreakinToad (Biden whispered "Don't Jump")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: cherry
just think, no more “boys” going to juvenile court when they commit murder....they vote, they can go to adult prison.

Currently NZ allows those serving sentences of 3 years or less to vote. One of the proposals in addition to lowering the age to 16, is to allow all incarcerated prisoners to vote.

They also allow permanent resident aliens to vote.

12 posted on 06/06/2023 12:20:18 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: BigFreakinToad
I think some places in CA have lowered voting age on local issues to 16 just as they don't care if someone is a non-citizen in some local elections.

I've been thinking recently the transgender targeting of children is a way for the Left to soften up the idea kids are just small adults capable of making life altering decisions. The abortion crowd have always been on that side and the transgender "affirmative care" industry have opened up a new flank. The "Minor Attracted Person" types will make their move soon enough. Just having the term "MAP" is disturbing because it sugar coats the destructive reality of pedophilia. We're seeing a push towards this idea kids can consent.

Is there much of a leap from "kids can consent" to younger and younger "minds of mush" casting ballots?

Voting age didn't drop to 18 until 1971 under Nixon and yet 18-20 year olds, even younger, were dying for their county for generations. You cannot compare a 16 year old in 2023 to 1923. They took are much more responsibility in 1923 than typical today. Delayed adulthood has been a problem in recent generations as our 1st world country enjoys peace, prosperity and expectations shift. The harsh realities of life outside of modern American society is lost.

As we grow away from that personal accountability and self-reliance, generations naturally drift towards socialism. Conservatives understand and appreciate what it takes to have the "nice things" we enjoy. The Left wants victims, grievance politics and children who haven't lived enough to know better. No one can or will take care of you as well as you can do for yourself if you are able bodied.

13 posted on 06/06/2023 12:21:41 PM PDT by newzjunkey (We need a better Trump than Trump in 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer
If children aren’t responsible enough to buy a gun, they sure as hell aren’t responsible to choose who is going to run the country.

Good point

14 posted on 06/06/2023 12:24:59 PM PDT by newzjunkey (We need a better Trump than Trump in 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Why should chronological age be used at all and not
Filing an income tax form... even if income is zero or less.
Graduation from 12th grade.
Score of 100 on SAT.
Passing test required for Naturalization?

How did chronological age be the criteria?

It is a state issue (a NZ issue?). It is not a Federal issue in the US. Can we agree on that?


15 posted on 06/06/2023 12:37:54 PM PDT by spintreebob (ki .h g)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: spintreebob

This is their trial balloon.

Coming soon to the USA.....................


16 posted on 06/06/2023 12:39:21 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: newzjunkey

The left is indeed opening all kinds of fronts for the war on kids. If they survive the democrat abortion machine, then lets either twist them Transhumanism or use them as sex object for the lefts perverted desire.
All I know for sure is that some people need to assume room temperature.


17 posted on 06/06/2023 12:48:34 PM PDT by BigFreakinToad (Biden whispered "Don't Jump")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Because the “left” already owns the children?


18 posted on 06/06/2023 1:09:26 PM PDT by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

This is leftist takeover crap. How I despise those people.


19 posted on 06/06/2023 1:46:42 PM PDT by Allegra (Stop the Zeepers from Censoring FReepers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

A biblical curse:

Isaiah 3:12

“As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.”


20 posted on 06/06/2023 2:01:35 PM PDT by aimhigh (1 John 3:23 "And THIS is His commandment . . . . ")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson