Introduction

The Chief Electoral Office is responsible for the administration of parliamentary elections and referenda, advising Ministers and Select Committees of Parliament on electoral matters, and supporting the Representation Commission in its determination of electoral boundaries.  The Chief Electoral Office is a division of the Ministry of Justice.

This business plan sets out the Chief Electoral Office’s strategy, planning assumptions and high level work programme for the period 1 January 2006 to 30 June 2009.  It forms part of the Ministry of Justice’s wider strategic plan.

The plan is divided into three parts.

Part I sets the overall context and identifies the major strategic themes for the next 3 years.
Part II sets out the major planning assumptions and the detailed projects and timetables through to 2009.
Part III provides basic statistical information on the 2005 general election. 

The plan is designed to provide guidance to the Office in carrying out its many activities.  I hope it is also of interest to other readers.

Robert Peden
Chief Electoral Officer

Overview

The Chief Electoral Office aims to maintain public and political confidence in the administration of parliamentary elections and referenda.  To that end, we strive to improve our services to voters, political parties and candidates and to ensure we act with integrity and impartiality.

The challenges

Planning for parliamentary elections provides many challenges.  One is that the date of an election is unknown until a few weeks beforehand.  Until the date is certain many tasks, including the employment and training of many thousands of temporary staff and the securing and supply of polling places, cannot be completed. 

Another is that there is no permanent field structure.  Returning Officers and their staff need to be recruited and trained and the infrastructure that supports them established anew for each election.

We seek to meet these challenges through careful planning and risk management.

The last general election

For 2005 we improved our services to voters with disabilities, reduced barriers to voting, and simplified the important but complex series of post-election day processes that Returning Officers have to complete (the scrutiny of the rolls, the processing of special declaration votes, the official count, and the close down of their headquarters).  The technology used by Returning Officers to support the post-election day processes was significantly enhanced for the 2005 election. 

Market research showed a high level of public satisfaction with the services provided to voters on polling day.  The vast majority used their EasyVote card when they voted, considered the time spent in the polling place reasonable, and were satisfied with the timeliness of the results.  New services, such as the sign language DVD on voting, were well received.

Main areas of focus for the next general election

For 2008 the main focus will be on further improving the training for Returning Officers and their staff to enable them to deliver high level services.  While capability at all levels was significantly improved for 2005, training continues to be a priority.

Other areas for focus are:

• Improving advance voting services
• Identifying and meeting the needs of voters who face particular barriers to voting
• Simplifying post-election day processes and procedures
• Ensuring that our policies have regard to the needs of Māori voters.

The Chief Electoral Office will contribute to the government’s review of the electoral finance regime.  The government intends any legislation arising from the review to be enacted by 30 November 2007 so that it is in place in good time for the 2008 election.

The Representation Commission will convene in 2007 to determine new electoral boundaries and this will form a major area of work for the Chief Electoral Officer, who is an ex officio member of the Commission, and for the Chief Electoral Office which provides administrative support to the Commission.

The Chief Electoral Office intends to develop, by 31 December 2007, a long-term strategy on electronic voting.  Electronic voting will not be available in 2008.

The plan

Chief Electoral Office business plan 2006-2009