Hard News: Time to Vote
249 Responses
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It's been a great ride following the coverage with you Russell... I agree, as voters/citizens it's important we hold our officials accountable post the election and points raised by Nicky Hagar need proper open and public investigation.
As a family, we'll be voting tomorrow, my kids are still many years off being able to vote, but the more they understand about democracy and the process the better equipped they'll be when it's their turn.
Meanwhile... have a great day!
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Nice one. Gaz. That was just the first comment I was after. You have a good day too.
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Felix Marwick, Jessica Williams, Laura McQuillan, Andrea Vance and many others: thanks.
Very much and often hilarious.
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I've walked through a polling booth numerous times in the last fortnight, but I'm saving myself for the big day. I meant to write more about this, but the tl;dr is that making it easier for people to vote at a time that is convenient for them, makes it easier for them to put it off, and then find that there's not a very convenient time, and so not vote. I think the theater of voting on the day is important, and making that in to an institution is important. I even like the idea that choosing not to vote is a choice you should make in the booth by not ticking a box. Not by not going to the booth at all.
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Really appreciated a (generally) sane and accessible overview of the past few weeks. A (relatively) safe harbour is an essential part of life's voyage.
We too are doing the pilgrimage up to the voting booths tomorrow, kids able to vote for the first time as well, looking forward to tomorrow - whatever it may bring!
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My daughter's first foray outside the maternity ward, at the age of 2 days, was to accompany me down stairs to the ballot box in 2011. I look forward to walking round the corner with her to our local school to vote tomorrow, and continuing to engage her as she grows.
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It really has been a most craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyy election campaign.
I'll vote mid-morning, then go to a couple of nearby school fairs. The John MacGlashan College one is usually pretty good for scoring a couple of decent books cheap, so here's hoping.
Nothing specific planned for the afternoon, then just plan to watch TV3. I cannot abide Seven Sharp and shudder to think how unctuous Mike Hosking will be all evening, especially if it looks like National will win on the night.
Admittedly TV3 looks like it'll have Paul Henry, but at least it'll only be as a occasional commentator and not as the main presenter. Then it really would be a pox on both their houses.
Other than that, all I can say is "vote early and vote often", etc.
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Come on People Now...
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I voted during the week in anticipation of being on a bicycle saddle in the hills between Opotiki and Motu for most of tomorrow. Unfortunately, the weather forecast and advice from DOC on the viability of riding on the Pakihi Track means I will actually be in town now.
This has been the 11th general election I have voted in, the first in 1978 as a newly minted 18 year old going up to Glen Eden Primary School with my mum to cast my vote. I skipped the 84 and 87 elections while living overseas, although I got to vote in Australia whilst living there.
This election campaign has been the most entertaining one that I have seen since living in Australia. I was in Australia for all four of those that Bob Hawke won. Snap elections may not happen here much (Bob Muldoon notwithstanding), but they’re par for the course in Oz and it’s all on with no holds barred when one is called there.
I like MMP, it ensures that there is a voice for everyone, and whilst some of the parties’ messages set my teeth on edge, we do end up with a parliament that mostly reflects the social make up of the country.
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Richard Aston, in reply to
It really has been a most craaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyy election campaign.
+1 Insane even
Big thanks to you Russell and the Hard news community for providing a sane (mostly) haven to discuss and think though the complexities of this election.
Its been really hard to filter the spin, discover the truth and try to come to some kind of understanding of it all. The discussions, revelations and links here has helped me immeasurably.
My hope is the result will be the most MMPish of any election where the power of office sits on a delicate balance of divergent interests that is wide enough to be someway representative of us the voters.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
a couple of nearby school fairs
I'm guessing the other one,
for records and music,
is the Don MacGlashan College...?
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For the first time, we’ll vote as a whole family, and it’s been rewarding watching both our sons consider their decisions.
My son will vote for the first time this year. He will vote: his dad is under instruction to bring him up to the voting place. He and his mates all did onthefence and then bitched about their results on Skype a couple of nights back. I'm so proud of his level of political engagement, and so pleased that he's voting on the day, because it really is a rite of passage, his first act as a citizen.
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Our family will be heading down to the voting booth together too. The kids are too young, but are interested already. Long may that last. No early voting for us as we enjoy the fun of voting on the day. Also, with the level of cray cray in this campaign, I want to wait right until the end.
Many thanks to all the public address writers and commenters - so full of great information. You've made me re-embrace twitter and made my working output far less.
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Thanks Russell, I have enjoyed following your coverage, both here and on Twitter (I am one of your new followers). I think you have got the tone right, you have clear opinions, sometimes forcefully expressed, but not overstepping into personal abuse.
I will vote tomorrow, I like the sense of occasion doing it on the day. My daughter is 17 so can’t vote this time, but she will be all go for 2017.
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At the end of the day all I want is for a Royal Commission into the handling of official information requests with recommendations that lead to a more impartial and timely system of release.
The people that have been using our public service for party political gain must be brought to account as it is a creeping and insidious assault on our democracy.
I know that it's easy to see partiality in our press however the lack of curiosity and analysis in some of the stories released and the partisan ties to the people propagating these mistruths are causing a lot of harm to our society. Some of the backdoor character assassination that has occurred is truly vile and damaging which has to be acted on. There is a lot of power in what information gets disseminated and the playing field doesn't look level .
These are the issues which I believe require a full and public airing as we need to stop the win at all costs mentality that is polarising our political culture.
I don't want the Americanisation of our electoral system with its money and shouting at each other polarities.
I do want a Government that looks to the long term good of the whole country both the citizens and the land itself.
We are all in this together and there seems to be some enormous difficulties approaching in regard of the whole planet which need to be faced with clear thinking and honesty. Business as usual wont suffice.sorry for the rantlet. Rob
P.S. just bloody vote it is important.
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I advance voted, because I could.
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For the first time, we’ll vote as a whole family, and it’s been rewarding watching both our sons consider their decisions.
Me too, although obviously the kids won't vote. But I'm going to take them to see the whole process. They been most intrigued by it all, to the point I was asked to explain who would want to vote for each party. I'm doing my best not to initiate them into a tribe, and I think the fact that I probably won't vote the same way as my wife brings the point to them.
I'm curious if anyone knows whether I can actually take the children into the booth with me to show them the ballot paper, and the marking thereof.
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BenWilson, in reply to
Many thanks to all the public address writers and commenters - so full of great information. You've made me re-embrace twitter and made my working output far less.
LOL, kia kaha and word up to that.
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James Green, in reply to
via Andrew Geddis s.168
The voter, having received a ballot paper,—
(a) shall immediately retire into one of the inner compartments provided for the purpose; and
(b) shall there alone and secretly vote—There is a later bit about being able to take a carer in, but I don’t think you need your children to physically help you to vote…
Perhaps it's a moment to talk to them about the importance of people being able to make their own choices and why we have a secret ballot.
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Grant McDougall, in reply to
I’m guessing the other one, for records and music, is the Don MacGlashan College…?;- )
Boom, boom ! No, the far more prosaic Kaikorai Primary, alas.
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Sue,
I'd also like to make a shout out to the team from The Wireless.
It feels like for the first time a chunk of journalists have dedicated time to the under 30 voters. The Standard reporting on the youth vote is - they don't vote, they are apathetic, end story. The Wireless delved deep, partnered with places like Massey for 'ask Away' made frequent appreance on National Radio & on the site itself there are chunks of both in-depth and drop in audio and written reporting.
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It is unlikely that there will be a firm decision on the night but if it is looking leftish then I will be watching tvnz just for the pleasure of seeing a glum hosking :)
We are having a curry theme for Saturday and are looking forward to the results.
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We voted on Wednesday at our local public library branch. It felt good to vote there because we have fought to save it from city council closure for about the last 20 years. There were no queues although the two staff said it is had been steady. I asked about the requirement to verbally confirm your name to the electoral officer - even with the easyvote card - and whether this was a problem for any non verbal or disabled people and the man assured me there is always a way to communicate.
We are newly in Ohariu which has one of the highest proportion of enrolled voters and is marginal as the Nat candidate is not really campaigning at all and the Green candidate only wants the party vote. Will be one to watch.
I have been impressed with People First's campaign actively educating and encouraging their members with learning disability to vote and it is disappointing that there are families who deny their family member's capacity to participate in democracy. The right to vote is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and it is up to us to work out how to implement that for everyone. The Electoral Commission has generally done a good job on disability access, including phone voting for those who can't get to a polling booth. It is all on their website if anyone wants to know more.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
The people that have been using our public service for party political gain must be brought to account as it is a creeping and insidious assault on our democracy.
An Electtroll Commission of inquiry, perhaps?
:- ) -
A simply awesome column on it all from Toby Manhire.
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