'System just sucks': Political scientist says Māori being deterred from voting

A leading Māori political scientist has raised serious concerns about the New Zealand electoral system, suggesting that its complexity and lack of user-friendly design are discouraging Māori voters from participating in elections.

Lara Greaves, a political scientist at Victoria University, described the system as “difficult to navigate,” particularly when it comes to updating or changing enrolment details. She said the system is “confusing, hōhā, bureaucratic and a bit annoying.”

Recent reports have shown a growing number of Māori voters being moved to the dormant roll or having their details altered, even after updating their information. This has left many confused and frustrated, with some claiming they have no record of being enrolled at all.

Lloyd, a long-time voter, shared his experience of checking his enrolment status only to find his details missing. He said the system was “inflexible” and that the process of re-enrolling should be simpler.

Similarly, Taryn Utiger, a Māori voter, was informed that she was on the Māori roll, only to later discover that her details had been altered, leaving her unsure of her voting rights.

Greaves highlighted that these issues are not just technical but are also rooted in historical and systemic barriers. She pointed to the legacy of colonisation and a lack of understanding among poll workers about the Māori roll as contributing factors to lower voter participation and trust in the electoral process.

“We know that there are barriers out there, and the barriers and perception of barriers do cause lower trust, lower trust in democracy,” she said. “All of this is contributing to a culture where people think, 'why would I even bother voting they don't want my vote.'”

Greaves called for greater investment in the Electoral Commission, particularly in its IT systems and staffing. “Could we just invest in an IT system, could we invest in a computer system, could we invest in more people on the ground and get better results?” she asked.

The Electoral Commission has stated that there are no technical issues with their online system, but some people have been moved to the dormant roll due to not updating their information in a timely manner. According to the 2023 General Election Report, 96,406 people were on the dormant roll, with 14 percent on the Māori dormant roll.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has also expressed concern but reiterated that the Electoral Commission has not identified any systemic issues. He urged voters who are experiencing problems to contact the commission directly.

As the country moves toward the next election, the challenges faced by Māori voters highlight a broader issue of inclusivity and accessibility in the democratic process. Greaves urged the government to take immediate action to ensure that all voters, especially Māori, are not deterred from participating in elections due to a system that, as she put it, “just sucks.”