Kiwiblog

Simon Power announced last week:

Voters will be able to re-enrol and update their details online in time for next year’s general election, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Cabinet has decided that legislation to be introduced to Parliament in November, is the first step in a process that will also eventually allow voters to use the Internet to enrol for the first time.

Currently, voters have to complete and sign a written form when enrolling and making changes to their details.

The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill No.2 allows voters to re-enrol and make changes to their details online using the ‘igovt’ government logon service, which is run by the Department of Internal Affairs. This will take effect from the middle of next year when the legislation is expected to be passed.

A good step forward. The igovt login service should be secure – more secure than our current system which allows anyone to enrol without showing proof of identity or residence.

And don’t get me started on how you can even vote without proof of identity.

Would be good to have trialled Internet voting for some local body elections this year. With a user name, password and token it can be as secure as Internet banking.

The Electoral Enrolment Centre reports:

The Registrar of Electors has completed their investigation into enrolment irregularities in the electoral roll for the Papatoetoe area of Auckland and removed 306 enrolments.

That is attempted fraud on a huge scale. The 306 people who were told to enrol at addresses where they do not live should be prosecuted themselves unless they reveal who was the mastermind that arranged this – because of course it must have been co-ordinated.

The ballot papers go out today. If a candidate was involved in this attempted fraud, the public need to know this before they vote. I hope the Police assign enough resources to this case (normally electoral matters are ranked below jay walking) so that the investigation is completed swiftly (but thoroughly).

We all had fun using the referendum question generator to create parodies.

Now what people may not be aware is the Electoral Commission Enrolment Centre filed a takedown notice against the site allowing you to create a parody, as Orange Man is their intellectual property.

New Zealand doesn’t have a specific exemption for parody and satire, so if they had proceeded, the site could have been forced to close.

Most people would agree the Electoral Commission Enrolment Centre should of course be able to take action if a person is using Orange Man to impersonate the Commission Enrolment Centre , or make people think it is a real notice on behalf of the electoral agencies. But most people can work out that a question such as “Should gingas be exterminated by 2011″ is not a real referendum.

Thankfully a compromise has been reached, where in return for explicit reference of the crown copyright, I understand the Electoral Commission Enrolment Centre has withdrawn its objections (which is good of them).

It does highlight though the need for good intellectual property law that both rewards the owner of intellectual property, but also protects fair use and free speech by allowing satire and parody.

Hat Tip: No Right Turn

NZPA reports on how the Electoral Enrolment Centre is encouraging the 250,000 people not enrolled to do so, so they can vote. 16,396 votes were disqualified in 2005 as people were not enrolled.

I am a big fan of everyone eligible to vote, doing so. But maybe we can look at how best to promote enrolment and voting. Below are the official advertisements in NZ for enrolling:

All very worthy. But now check out this US advertisement promoting enrolment and voting:

I don’t think one needs to do a poll, to work out which one will be most effective at getting the attention of young people (who are the largest segment of non voters). I’m sure some NZ celebrities would be willing to help out for a good cause!

Hat Tip for Alba ad: The Standard