Infrequently asked electoral questions
November 10th, 2011 at 1:32 pm by David FarrarFor the geeks, Graeme Edgeler asks and answers them. I like this one.
Well, how would you surreptitiously distort an election?
Nominations having closed, I don’t feel too bad announcing this one more broadly now.
My favoured method involves getting a terminally ill person (perhaps more than one, just to be “safe”), to run in the anchor electorate of a sub-5% party (e.g. Epsom). If an electorate candidate (even an independent) dies between the close of nominations, and the close of voting, the election for that electorate is cancelled (resulting in a by-election), and only the party votes count. That seat couldn’t then be used to get that party (e.g. ACT) into parliament by avoiding the 5% threshold, potentially swinging a close election. And as that person doesn’t need to have any formal affiliation to a party (they might claim to be doing it as a stunt to raise awareness about some aspect of the health system), you might be able to get away with it.
This is a rule we really don’t need, and I’m guessing it’s a hangover from first past the post. Which, to be honest, doesn’t need it either. Given that you’re having an election anyway, let people vote, and if the dead candidate wins, then have a by-election.
I tend to agree. If the US can elect dead politicians, so can we.
Related posts:
- Questions and Answers on the Electoral Finance Act
- Understanding STV
- The Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Bill changes
- Harawira’s status
November 10th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
A dead politician has every right to vote as a live one. With proxy voting that should overcome any practical considerations. In fact why not have an entire caucus of dead politicians except the leader.
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
So there is a risk Penny Bright could kill ACT if she killed herself?
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
How committed is David Parker to keep Act out of parliament?
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Electorate Candidates for Epsom
These are the candidates seeking your electorate vote.
Candidate Name Party Name
BANKS, John ACT New Zealand
BRIGHT, Penny Independent
GOLDSMITH, Paul National Party
GOODE, Matthew Independent
HAY, David Green Party
KAN, Simon Conservative Party
O’DEA, Pat Mana
PARKER, David Labour Party
Forget Parker……..What about our resident Publicwatchdog?
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
My understanding is once the election is declared that is it. A by election held as a result of a dead candidate on polling day may not be able to retrospectively readjust the seat allocation. Too late now but the labour party is quite capable of fronting a terminally ill candidate to cause this strange result. Perhaps David Parker could take one for the team in Epsom.
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
George Patton
I was about to enquire after the water hobbit’s health, but I guess you’ve trumped me.
tvb
“take one for the team” Chortle.
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
David, David, David….
So you rate your ability to analyse US politics (apparently leaning on the now notoriously “progressive” and demo leaning AP) above that of, for example, Dick Morris. Yes or NO ?
FACT: If Cain were a Democratic contender this bullshit would never have had legs. Moreover, any controversy with Aldred involved is by definition a paid set up for the demos.
Cain may be gone. But NOT yet. He is still the most impressive candidate from the Repubs and the one that has set the agenda for the forthcoming primaries – TAX REFORM and an absence of beltway bullshit.
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Graeme Edgeler doesn’t offer advice to Fonterra directors by any chance ? Reads like some of crap they put out promoting TAF
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Is there an easy or obvious way to work out how many list MPs a party would get based on current polling? If the Green’s got 12% or so, who are the brand new list MPs?
Vote:November 10th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
SS Bob,
Vote:For the townies, TAF is trading amongst farmers, being the name given to trading in Fonterra shares.
It has all the dodgy attributes of carbon credit trading.
November 10th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
from Wikipedia
Rainbow Members of Parliament (MPs) work closely with the Rainbow Labour Sector Council, and has included gay men Chris Carter, Tim Barnett, and lesbian MP Maryan Street, and until she resigned in 2007, transsexual MP Georgina Beyer. During 2006 Charles Chauvel became an MP when a vacancy arose; similarly Louisa Wall entered Parliament in 2008 following a resignation (although she was not re-elected at the general election later that year), and Grant Robertson was elected as the MP for Wellington Central in 2008. Louisa Wall re-entered Parliament on the resignation of Darren Hughes in 2011.
Labour List 2011
Rank and Name Effective Rank Party Vote Needed
1. Phil Goff Mt Roskill
2. Annette King Rongotai
3. David Cunliffe New Lynn
4. David Parker 1 18%
5. Ruth Dyson Port Hills
6. Parekura Horomia Ikaroa-Rawhiti
7. Maryan Street 2 19%
8. Clayton Cosgrove Waimakariri
9. Trevor Mallard Hutt South
10. Sue Moroney 3 20%
11. Charles Chauvel 4 21%
12. Nanaia Mahuta Hauraki-Waikato
13. Jacinda Ardern 5 21%
14. Grant Robertson Wellington Central
15. Andrew Little 6 22%
16. Shane Jones 7 23%
17. Su’a William Sio Mangere
18. Darien Fenton 8 24%
19. Moana Mackey 9 25%
20. Rajen Prasad 10 25%
21. Raymond Huo 11 26%
22. Carol Beaumont 12 27%
23. Kelvin Davis 13 28%
24. Carmel Sepuloni 14 29%
25. Rick Barker 15 29%
26. Deborah Mahuta-Coyle 16 30%
27. Stuart Nash 17 31%
28. Clare Curran Dunedin South
29. Brendon Burns Chch Central
30. Chris Hipkins Rimutaka
31. David Shearer Mt Albert
32. Michael Wood 18 32%
33. Phil Twyford Te Atatu
34. Stephanie (Steve) Chadwick 19 33%
35. Kate Sutton 20 33%
36. Jerome Mika 21 34%
37. Iain Lees-Galloway Palm North
38. Josie Pagani 22 35%
39. Lynette Stewart 23 36%
40. Jordan Carter 24 37%
41. Kris Faafoi Mana
42. Christine Rose 25 37%
If you are looking for conspiracy. Just peruse the Labour list ranking and see how many rainbow v straight candidates (if you know the sexuality) would lose if Labour lost badly. The rainbow bloc would survive a mauling and have an even greater ratio when Goff and King are forced to retire in 3 weeks.
Vote:This is not an accident. This is deliberate sabotage of the Labour Party by the ambitious Grant Robertson. He will make a token effort to have plausible deniability.
November 10th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
“I tend to agree. If the US can elect dead politicians, so can we.”
Vote:I thought we already did. Goff?
November 10th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Vote:Oh so true
November 10th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
When is Key going to stop lying ?
a pertinent question that should be asked frequently.
Vote: