Elect! - running elections for learning
- ARTICLES
We are having an election...
What/who are you going to elect? or what are you going to decide? Holding an election provides many opportunities for learning. An election which enables ‘winners’ to have some type of actual power will be more meaningful. Read more »
The right to vote
Who has the right to vote in your election? The ability to vote in free and fair democratic elections is part of universal human rights. Many groups have had to work together and take social action for the right to vote or to preserve democracy. Read more »
Types of elections
Which electoral system will you use? Democracies use a variety of election processes. The election process chosen by people reflects the outcome needed from the election and the thinking at the time. Read more »
Electorates
How are any electorates defined? An electorate is organised to group people together into communities for the purpose of electing representatives. The aim of electorate design is to attain approximately equal voter population groups. Read more »
Electoral administration
Who will run the election and how will it be run fairly? Electoral administrators aim to have free and fair elections where all voters know about their opportunity to participate and the election rules are clear and fair for everyone. Read more »
Political Parties
How will political parties be created or form? Political parties are important in parliamentary democracy as a means of organising votes and MPs. People and groups serve as official representatives of themselves and/or others within a party. They become the spokesperson for those ideas. Read more »
Electors
How will the electoral roll be created? It is compulsory for all eligible people over 18 in New Zealand to enrol, but it is optional to vote. Having electoral rolls and checking off voters helps prevent cheating, such as people voting more than once! Read more »
Candidates
How are candidates chosen? Candidates are people who seek election so that they can represent themselves or others in a political context. Read more »
Information about election day
What do voters need to know about Election Day to encourage participation and who will provide it? For an election to be free and fair for all people, voters need to be informed with details that enable them every opportunity to participate in the election. Read more »
Campaign by lobby and interest groups
What rules will be in place around the campaign and who will enforce them? Groups who are not contesting the election may campaign to influence parties on their policies and also to influence voters’ choices. Read more »
News Media
Who will provide the news and commentary on the campaign? The media’s coverage of an election event contributes to the news and views people hear during the campaign. Read more »
Campaign by parties and candidates
What rules will be in place around the campaign and who will enforce them? Political campaigning is governed by a number of rules and regulations to ensure all is fair in the lead up to an election. Read more »
Election Day: Voting
What happens on Election Day, and at what level of detail? Eligible members of democratic societies, have an opportunity to participate on Election Day by casting a secret vote/ballot. Electoral administrators in a democracy work to reduce all barriers to voting for electors. Read more »
The count
How is the counting of votes organised? There is no point going through the whole process of a campaign and voting unless all of the votes are counted accurately and under scrutiny. The count enables winners to be declared and then form the parliament or committee for which they were elected. Read more »
Analyse the results
What happens after your election? The results of an election provide opportunities for candidates and groups to reflect on what the voters ‘told them’ by their voting patterns. Read more »
The elected body meets
What happens after your election? The whole point of having an election is to choose a group of people to make decisions for others. The elected and defeated people need to reflect on what the voters ‘told them’ by their voting patterns and start thinking about the next election. Read more »
