6(c)
6(c)
6(a)
6(a)
6(a)
Services
•
Since yesterday, the team had 688 tickets resolved, received 81 phone calls and made 20 outbound
calls. 88% of tickets were resolved in one-touch. Telnet received 2,161 calls and 197 emails yesterday.
•
The top enquiries were about EasyVote (18%), followed by Where to Vote questions (17%) and
Update details (16%). 27% of the contacts were triggered by our website.
•
There are 46 complaints on hand across the business units. No significant risk or issue to raise.
INSIGHTS (ANNEX):
Some analyses have been completed to understand the nature of call contacts received thus far, and a
trend diagram is included in the Customers Enquiries section below. In summary,
•
Since the end of August, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of “How do I vote?”
contacts. This may be increased by people looking for information on EasyVote cards.
•
While the enrolment related questions remain to be the main reason for contacting us, this was
trending down since early September.
•
New Zealanders have increasingly sought information on where they can vote since mid-September.
•
Based on the forecast, it is expected each of these enquiries will continue to increase in proportion
to other enquiries as the voting period continues.
Communications GENERAL UPDATE:
and Education
•
EasyVote was a key focus yesterday with preparation of our media release and statement in the
afternoon. All main outlets ran stories after comments made by party leaders on EasyVote.
•
We declined all requests for interviews and instead went out with a short statement reiterating the
process involved in producing the EasyVote pack.
•
Morning news items included a number of third-party political commentators who reinforced the
message that you can vote without an EasyVote card and in support of the Commission.
•
A lot of other media requests including filming, focus on early voting numbers and kaupapa Māori
voting places.
•
On social media, people are still sharing their disappointment about EasyVote although this was at a
more manageable level than the previous day.
•
Someone has created some parody fan art based on the ‘I voted stickers’ for the Wellington Zine Fest.
This was picked up in a story on stuff and has been circulating on social media.
Daily metrics
•
27 media enquiries
6(c)
6(c)
6(c)
6(c)
General Election 2023 Voting
Enrolment
Customer Enquiries
Overseas, Dictation
6(c)
6(c)
Day voting place staff.
Election Integrity Project Update
• The team is meeting with Karl to go through the action points:
• Provide communication back to the organisers that can also be used by field staff
• Provide field staff with clarity on the provisions in the Scrutineer’s Handbook e.g qualifications of
scrutineers, their role, permitted and non-permitted activities
• Joining the regular meetings tomorrow that are taking place with Electorate Managers to talk
through the provisions and any questions
• The key challenge is around these groups believing other sources of information and not being willing
to accept what they are told by Commission staff.
Chief Executive
• The Chief Executive conveyed the words of appreciation and thanks from the Chair and Board to staff
on their work delivering the General Election that is going smoothly as expected.
• The Chief Electoral Officer is working closely with interested stakeholders regarding the concerns
around EasyVotes packs
• Big focus after the election is to report back to Parliament on this issue and the process undertaken.
Enrolment
MANAGEMENT OF ISSUES:
Dumped mail • The Customer Servies team has had two reports from members of the public (one yesterday and one
this morning) in relation to dumped Electoral Commission mail.
Report 1
6(a)
6(a)
Report 2 •
6(a)
• NZ Post has been notified and will recover the mail and investigate as a matter of priority.
ACTIONS • It is too late to reissue the Enrolment Update packs dumped in
we may look at contacting
6(a)
the impacted electors depending on quantity.
• General Update – we’re getting EasyVote GNAs (Gone No Address) returned mails where electors no
longer are living at the address. This is a normal process.
UPDATE ON PREVIOUS ISSUES
Enrolment Forms from Advance Voting Places (AVPs)
• A new quality issue – we have had instances where the Advance Voting Place (AVP) Stamp has been
affixed over the top of mandatory information on the enrolment form, making some of that
mandatory information unreadable.
eRoll Updates (MDA2) • The issue of multiple forms being sent is the result of users “clicking on confirm” more than once.
• This will be most likely due to connectivity issues or drop-outs and the user not being confident that
the form has been sent.
• Comms have been sent out to staff on how to mitigate the issue and IT will look at useability post-
election.
IT
GENERAL UPDATE •
Enrolment Centralised Processing Wi-Fi issues in Upper Hutt – Changes made to the Network
connections and Zendesk tuning for agents has had a significant positive impact. Monitoring over the
next few days will validate the changes made.
•
IT Service Desk Monitoring – There were 200 calls yesterday – a steady stream which is being
managed well by the team. Volumes remain within expectations and no major issues to report.
Customer
GENERAL UPDATE:
Services
• Since yesterday, the team had 688 tickets resolved, received 81 phone calls and made 20 outbound
calls. 88% of tickets were resolved in one-touch. Telnet received 2,161 calls and 197 emails yesterday.
• The top enquiries were about EasyVote (18%), followed by Where to Vote questions (17%) and
Update details (16%). 27% of the contacts were triggered by our website.
• There are 46 complaints on hand across the business units. No significant risk or issue to raise.
INSIGHTS (ANNEX):
Some analyses have been completed to understand the nature of call contacts received thus far, and a
trend diagram is included in the Customers Enquiries section below. In summary,
• Since the end of August, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of “How do I vote?”
contacts. This may be increased by people looking for information on EasyVote cards.
• While the enrolment related questions remain to be the main reason for contacting us, this was
trending down since early September.
• New Zealanders have increasingly sought information on where they can vote since mid-September.
• Based on the forecast, it is expected each of these enquiries will continue to increase in proportion
to other enquiries as the voting period continues.
Communications GENERAL UPDATE:
and Education
• EasyVote was a key focus yesterday with preparation of our media release and statement in the
afternoon. All main outlets ran stories after comments made by party leaders on EasyVote.
• We declined all requests for interviews and instead went out with a short statement reiterating the
process involved in producing the EasyVote pack.
• Morning news items included a number of third-party political commentators who reinforced the
message that you can vote without an EasyVote card and in support of the Commission.
• A lot of other media requests including filming, focus on early voting numbers and kaupapa Māori
voting places.
• On social media, people are still sharing their disappointment about EasyVote although this was at a
more manageable level than the previous day.
• Someone has created some parody fan art based on the ‘I voted stickers’ for the Wellington Zine Fest.
This was picked up in a story on stuff and has been circulating on social media.
Daily metrics
• 27 media enquiries
• 513 enquiries and comments on social media in the last 24 hours
• 98,331 visitors to vote.nz
Legal & Policy
GENERAL UPDATE/ISSUES
• NZ Loyal High Court case – Crown Law is filing our statement of defence today.
• One misinformation matter escalated to Twitter earlier this week. Awaiting a decision on escalation
of another matter on Facebook
Strategic
GENERAL UPDATE:
Engagement and • Ongoing concerns expressed across the country around recruitment into Voting Places (specifically
Partnership
not hearing back from the Commission).
Interagency
MOJ:
Update
• MOJ secretary for Justice was contacted by the Public Service commission seeking assurance
regarding the easy vote delays and plans to mitigate, particularly with respect to the three
electorates.
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)
• On 3rd October, a package of envelopes was delivered to MBIE’s Chief Executive. In the package were
individual envelopes addressed to all of MBIE’s Deputy Secretaries and General Managers, with their
office locations listed on the envelope, marked Private and Confidential. Envelopes contained a
pamphlet with political propaganda (anti co-governance.)
• On 4th October, received query from TVNZ regarding staff receiving letters with anti co-governance
information. The Election Commission provided a response to MBIE that the Commission does not
have any jurisdiction regarding political debate.
NZ Police
6(c)
6(c)
Security &
GENERAL UPDATE:
Integrity
Field security incident reports received 5 October 2023
Type
Reported
Resolved
Voting Place Disruption
5
5
Access
1
1
Mechanical
1
1
• Five significant voting place disruptions.
o
6(c)
o Distraction theft at Lynn Mall Voting Place (VP). Staff member had personal phone stolen. Allied
Security and RSRAs advised.
o Atrium on Elliot Voting Place (VP). Voter upset that party scrutineer was present. Took photos
then left. Comms advised
o
6(c)
IN-CONFIDENCE
DAILY INTERAGENCY REPORT TO
GEDT
Submitted daily not later than 11am.
Date: 5 October 2023
DPMC:
NSTR
NZ Police:
6(c)
6(c)
6(c)
NEMA (Daily Intelligence Briefing attached):
NSTR
GCSB:
NSTR
NZSIS:
Reporting via the JIG
IN-CONFIDENCE
IN-CONFIDENCE
MoH:
NSTR
Waka Kotahi:
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/traffic-and-travel-list-view/
NSTR
MFAT:
NSTR
MoJ:
MoJ Secretary for Justice contacted by the Public Service Commission seeking assurances
regarding the easy vote delays and plans to mitigate, particularly with respect to the three
electorates.
FENZ:
NSTR
MPI:
NSTR
MBIE:
On the afternoon of 3 Oct, a package of envelopes was delivered to MBIE’s Chief Executive’s office
at Stout Street. Inside the package were individual envelopes addressed to all of MBIE’s Deputy
Secretaries and General Managers, with their office locations listed on the envelope. The
envelopes were marked Private and Confidential. The envelopes contain a pamphlet with political
propaganda (anti co-governance).
IN-CONFIDENCE
IN-CONFIDENCE
The Executive Assistant and the Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive asked for the advice of our
Chief Legal Officer.
At this point, the envelopes have not been distributed and are still held by the Chief Executive’s
office.
On 4 Oct, a query was received from TVNZ asking “Can we please request a comment from MBIE
around staff receiving letters with anti co-governance information?”
MBIE are currently considering a response to the query.
Response from EC (to MBIE): The Commission doesn’t have any jurisdiction regarding political
debate. Hence wouldn’t appropriate to comment or provide media/comms messaging support.
Comment from MBIE this morning:
As per yesterday afternoon’s update provided, we will be responding to a query that was received
from TVNZ asking “Can we please request a comment from MBIE around staff receiving letters
with anti co-governance information?”
Prepared by: David
IN-CONFIDENCE
