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Proposed law change aims to speed up process of council elections

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Dec 2019, 11:28AM
The toss took place at 3pm and fell in favour of Glyn Lewers (left) who will take the last seat at the table for the council. Photo / ODT

Proposed law change aims to speed up process of council elections

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Dec 2019, 11:28AM

A proposed law change is expected to speed up the process of council elections.

Local Government Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, says the government will consider making changes to avoid the need to flip a coin if there's a draw.

An automatic recount could also be triggered where the winning margin's very small.

Glyn Lewers squeezed into the final place on the Queenstown Lakes District Council in October after a recount and a coin toss.

He told Mike Hosking the idea of an automatic recount is a good one.

“There’s probably a week's delay in applying for a recount, then there's a wait on the court making a decision on it. It was a tough way for my opponent to lose out."

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