Online voting has potential to increase young Māori political participation - Independent Māori Statutory Board
23 May 2018
Online voting has potential to increase young Māori political participation - Independent Māori Statutory Board
The Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) says trialling online voting for local elections in Tāmaki Makaurau would potentially increase Rangatahi, or Māori youth, participation in local body elections.
Board Chairman, David Taipari, says research shows that 85 per cent of Māori aged 15-24 use the internet for social media networking, and Rangatahi millennials make up half the Auckland Māori population.
“If there is an opportunity for our Rangatahi to get involved in local government politics in a way that makes sense to them why wouldn’t we support that approach? We do and we encourage trialling online voting,” David Taipari said.
Online voting for local elections is due to be discussed by the Auckland Council’s Governing Body on Thursday (24 May) and Mr Taipari says it’s our Board’s expectation that Auckland Council will approve a submission to the Justice Select Committee supporting trialling online voting for the upcoming 2019 local elections.
“While voting turnouts in local body elections has historically been lower among Māori than non-Māori, with Māori who are younger and less well off the least likely to vote, this is a real opportunity for our internet savvy Rangatahi to turn history on its head. We need Māori youth politically involved”, David Taipari says.
Submissions to the Justice Select Committee are due by 22 June 2018.
ENDS
Contact:
Brandi Hudson
CEO
Independent Māori Statutory Board
Mobile: 021 818 301
brandi.hudson@imsb.maori.nz