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Calls for more civic education to change our voting habits

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 9 Jul 2019, 11:33AM
Marguerite Delbet says education is a better solution than compulsory voting. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Calls for more civic education to change our voting habits

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 9 Jul 2019, 11:33AM

Auckland Council says there's strong support for compulsory voting ahead of this October's local body elections.

The council's done a survey of 2,000 people and has found 52 percent of Aucklanders support compulsory voting, rising to nearly 58 percent in the 25 to 34 age group.

Auckland Council democracy services manager Marguerite Delbet told Andrew Dickens the results are very surprising.

"We just want to open the debate on whether that will make it more likely to vote."

The survey also showed that 74 percent of people intend to vote but just 38 percent did so in 2016.

Despite the survey, Delbet says making voting compulsory hasn't worked overseas, and other methods may be necessary to change our habits.

"Civic education and teaching our young people why it's an important duty and why it makes a difference is actually the most important thing."

 

 

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