Don't Second Guess the Voters

Professor Nigel Roberts claims in this weeks Hutt News that Mayor David Ogden "would have lost" if the Hutt City Elections were held under STV.

Poppycock.

While I don't dispute that the result of the election could be different, I don't accept that it is a foregone conclusion that Ray Wallace or Ken Laban would have won.

There are so many variables - whether people voting for other candidate would have cast second preferences for David Ogden, or for someone else? Would David Ogden's voters only ranked him 1, and not ranked any other candidates? (That's how I vote - I only rank the ones I want to win.) And how would STV effect turnout and informal votes?

I feel the same way about the Electoral Integrity Bill - while an MP may change from his or her party, it is up to them to determine how best to represent the people who voted them into Parliament. After all, it is up to voters on whether they return them for another term.

But back to Lower Hutt - David Ogden won, fair and square, as he is the most popular candidate. And I'm glad to see that no other candidate has claimed the same as Professor Roberts - In fact, it was nice to see Mayoral candidate Rose Thomas write to the Hutt News this week to wish Mr Ogden the best.