Public Address | Cafe | Legal Beagle: Council elections: FPP Q&A

Steven Peters

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 09:47:20 +1300

Hi Folks
I have had a letter to the editor published in todays CHCH Press (2nd Oct) concerning John Keys comment that the party with the largest vote has the ‘moral mandate’ to govern, rather than a main party with less votes (but which has a coalition partner). If you…

Kyle Matthews

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 11:05:53 +1300

The answer is again, "maybe". If Dunne was bringing in two or three other MPs, then the answer is "definitely", but only if you can rely on Dunne falling your way come coalition talks, which probably isn't likely given he's in the middle of things.

Steven Peters

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:39:47 +1300

Isn't National the likely winner of that seat if Dunne should go?

I am not sure what you mean by 'should go'. What I am saying is that if he is in the race – National hasn't a hope of winning it. If he isnt in the race then you…

Henry Barnard

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:59:07 +1300

Dunnes seat is a bit different to the Epsom example, as National hasn’t a hope of winning it, and cannot really influence the result.

Isn't National the likely winner of that seat if Dunne should go? Chauvel (Labour) got 13,000, Gareth Hughes (Green) 2160, Dunne 14360, Katrina Shanks (National), 6900.…

Steven Peters

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:41:35 +1300

"The same applies to Peter Dunne's seat". You mean if Dunne had lost, and Labour won – National would have been one seat down for a coalition. however Dunnes seat is a bit different to the Epsom example, as National hasn't a hope of winning it, and cannot really influence…

Kyle Matthews

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:59:03 +1300

Thats pretty querky. If National had won Epsom in 2011, it would have cost it a list MP, and therefore its desirable for a different but friendly party to win it. Do you know how many electorates this scenario could apply to?

The same applies to Peter Dunne's seat, and…

Steven Peters

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:44:24 +1300

Thanks Rich. This is quite intriguing, and complex for the ordinary punter – who said MMP was simple?. I am still interested to learn about how this particualar quirk could be maximally exploited by political parties.
Single voting would mean the district magnitude of the party vote would be each…

Steven Peters

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:37:33 +1300

Thanks Kyle.
Thats pretty querky. If National had won Epsom in 2011, it would have cost it a list MP, and therefore its desirable for a different but friendly party to win it. Do you know how many electorates this scenario could apply to? ie.National allowing other favoured parties to…

Rich of Observationz

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:32:23 +1300

That's also my understanding. You can look at MMP scenarios with this very useful calculator: http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system/mmp-seat-allocation-calculator

MMP has an "unofficial affiliate" feature: if a seat is held by a local party that isn't officially affiliated to the national one, then it doesn't count against their list. So if National (or…

Kyle Matthews

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:13:37 +1300

Is this factually correct? If National had taken Epsom in 2011, would not the result have been exactly the same for the Nats in terms of having the numbers to form a govt.?

Act wasn't an overhang MP (1.07% of party vote) so didn't increase the size of parliament.

So…

Steven Peters

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 11:23:47 +1300

I know I am a little off topic here, but I would appreciate it if could someone could clarify something for me. As part of my interest in the rules of MMP, I am researching the ACT Party. At their 2013 conference, President John Boscawen said "The Epsom electorate votes…

Myles Thomas

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:36:22 +1200

Has anyone else in central AK not received ballots yet?

Kyle Matthews

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:10:06 +1200

Graeme, I've seen numerous people link to your STV blog post as they've discussed how to vote down here in Dunedin. Had an impact I'd say.

When you think about it FPP is terribly named. In STV there is a post – you have to get to a number -…

Steven Peters

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:03:40 +1200

I pity those in local body elections who have STV. Its not that the system is flawed particualrly, its just that it seems a battle between individuals, rather than the deeper principles they adhere to when organised into a party, even a party of loose cannons (at least you know…

Graeme Edgeler

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:33:21 +1200

And you didn't think FPP needed a Q&A :-)

Public Address

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:33:21 +1200

Discussion from blog post.