Late candidate returns
January 18th, 2006 at 9:14 am by David FarrarSurprised to see that 82 out of 597 candidates have not filed their election returns.
Rather than having to refer such things to an over worked Police, I’d favour some sort of automatic fine which is incurred for late returns.
No tag for this post.
January 18th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Tetauru Emile STILL hasn’t.
Vote:Lazy bugger.
January 18th, 2006 at 9:36 am
I’m sure Tetauru has a perfectly good excuse and is not holding the democratic process in contempt through laziness or ignorance.
DPF – do we know who these people are and what party they are from?
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 9:52 am
I don’t know who they are, and am unsure if this is public. AFAIK all National candidates filed their returns some time ago.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 10:36 am
It’s probably a safe assumption that the Labour Party did as well. Both National and Labour were organised parties, its probably all minor parties (mostly those out of Parliament) with inconsequential candidates who have failed to fulfil their candidates obligations.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 10:42 am
Aaron:
I don’t think that’s really the point. I find it hard to imagine the circumstances under which four months is an unreasonable deadline for a competently run campaign to file an election return.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Aside from the relatively obvious point that some folks are signed up to the party’s list as candidates without a clear idea as to what their responsibilities are.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 11:20 am
And the equally obvious point that some campaigns are not run competently.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 11:57 am
AFAIK Tetauru is the only ACT candidate that has not. I got hit up about it by Gav and Stu when I was in Wellington.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
I’ve never worked out why the police need to be involved unless there is very serious fraud. It’d be easier if the Electoral Commission had its own small investigation team and as you suggest, spot fines for minor transgressions.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Rich:
I guess the counter argument is that there’s no such thing as a “minor transgression” where the integrity of the electoral process is concerned. The operational independence of the Police would also go a long way to avoiding charges that these decisions would be subject to direct political interference by the government of the day.
Vote:January 18th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
FFS- let the party sort it out- so if they go over, they can’t run next term.
So sayeth Solomon…
Vote: