The Nurses Society has made a submission to the Justice Select Committee opposing the Electoral Amendment Bill.   

The main concerns are: 

*  proposed changes to enrolment deadlines that will infringe upon voting rights 

*  a blanket disenfranchisement of incarcerated persons which is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act. 

Under the Bill, enrolment will close 13 days before polling days, which will exclude a variety of voters who enrol later for a number of reasons, including:

*  persons who move electoral districts within this period

*  voters turning 18 within this period and are not permitted to enrol

*  voters more likely to cast special votes, including members of Māori, Asian, and Pasifika communities. 

The efficiency purported to be gained from these changes are speculative at best, whereas the harmful impact on democratic participation has the potential to be significant. Speculative administrative gain does not provide sufficient justification for limiting the democratic rights of New Zealanders

Electoral laws should make it easier for citizens to participate in voting, not harder. 

NSNZ urges the committee to recommend to parliament that it does not proceed.  

The full submission can read here.