Kia ora David

 

Thank you for your request.

 

I am acknowledging receipt of your Official Information Act request,
regarding ‘Can you provide: Cost benefit analysis, Request for proposals,
Research documents: that the Electoral Commission (or relevant government
department) has either created or had commissioned, relating to the
creation or implementation of online voting for official New Zealand
elections? received 25 September 2017.

 

Under the Official Information Act, we have 20 working days for response.

 

Kind Regards,

Tim

 

Tim | Administration Support Officer | Electoral Commission | Te
Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri  

PO Box 3220 | Level 10, 34 – 42 Manners Street | Wellington | 6140

Phone +64 4 495 0030 | Fax +64 4 495 0031 | [1]http://www.elections.org.nz

[2]cid:image007.jpg@01D2DB9C.21E96250

 

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Dear Mr Johnston,

 

Thank you for your e-mail of 25 September 2017 asking about online voting
in New Zealand.

 

You specifically requested:

 

- Cost benefit analysis

- Request for proposals

- Research documents

documents that the Electoral Commission (or relevant government
department) has either created or had commissioned, relating to the
creation or implementation of online voting for official New Zealand
elections?

 

The relevant documents are attached. 

 

The Chief Electoral Office prepared a draft strategy in 2007 (copy
attached) that looked at possible options for piloting electronic voting
for general elections and referenda.  It was provided to the Minister of
Justice for consideration.  There was never a decision made to build a
system.  After the 2008 general election the Government decided that no
further work would be done on developing e-voting options before the next
general election because of financial constraints. 

 

The second document is an excerpt form an information request from the
Justice and Electoral Select Committee Inquiry into the 2011 general
election.

 

While the Electoral Commission continues to monitor the results of
overseas electronic voting initiatives and look for other ways to utilise
technology to improve electoral processes, the Government indicated that
e-voting for parliamentary elections was not a priority for 2017. 

 

The select committee inquiry into the 2014 general election also
considered the question of e-voting,  and at page 27 of its [1]report, the
committee agreed that it was not a priority for the 2017 general election.

 

For this reason, the Electoral Commission has not produced any further
cost benefit analysis, requests for proposals, or research documents.  You
might wish to contact the Department of Internal Affairs if you are
interested in online voting at local elections.  

 

I hope this is of assistance to you.

 

You have the right, pursuant to section 28(3) of the Act, to ask the
Ombudsmen to investigate and review my response to your request.

 

Kind regards

 

Kristina Temel

Electoral Commission

 

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References

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1. https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/repor...