Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Democracy Night

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  • Stephen Judd,

    Spent the day doing things for Labour in Rongotai, mostly delivering refreshments to scrutineers. It felt unexpectedly heartwarming to see all the people going in to vote in primary schools and church halls and, oddly, a little garage at the top of Upoko St. A lot of the schools had taken the opportunity to schedule a school fair so there was a very festive family atmosphere at some of the polling booths I went to. Cast your vote, get a non-partisan sausage.

    I did feel a bit sorry for the lone National scrutineers who weren't being fed by their party, but not sorry enough to bring them a packed lunch.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Oh look, it's after 7pm. Hurrah! My voting day started off with a visit to a polling station very close to us , where I was delighted to see that James Butler was a scrutineer. Being very respectful of the process, I politely waved instead of going over for a natter. I was very proud of myself. And now, I'm off to support Julie Fairey at the electorate HQ for Labour in Mt Roskill. I suspect this will not be a happy night for Labour, but I am hoping that Green make a great showing. Let's face it - for the next three years, we are going to need MPs in the House who aren't afraid to stand up and be counted - for our kids, if nothing else.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Voted at the High Court here in Auckland. Busy-ish. Then spent the rest of the day PhD writing...

    And is my wont, hunting out late 80s hits on Youtube. Alison Moyet, Yazoo, The Front Lawn etc.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Lara,

    I had a very lovely voting experience. I scrutineered for two hours in the morning, and came back and voted after lunch. Then I did a brief spell of the 'Have you been able to vote today' variety of door knocking this evening. It was great!

    A brickbat: the election official who laughed at a friend of mine when she was trying to work out how to do a special vote (I had just spent some time persuading this person to vote at all and she was made to feel stupid when she is in fact a brilliantly clever lady :( )

    Did anyone else find that the electoral commission's electorate map has been failing to load? Or is it just me?

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2009 • 82 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Checked in at Whataroa School House - very efficient and cool people at midday.
    No probs with doing the (special vote)- I have never been quite sure why a Maori - whose people have been this side of the Island for the past 400 years has to - but-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Lovely shade of orange on those pens I thought...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Oh and current leading alternative voting system? Blank/spoiled holding a firm lead over FPP :|

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Daniel Wilton,

    I took my teenage mother niece along to vote. The vibe in central Wellington was awesome enjoy the fact that there is still a sense of ceremony on election day.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2009 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    And just to get Mr Edgeler's back up - John Campbell just claimed that the alternative system percentages were "of those people who chose not to keep MMP". Then went on to complain that nobody understood it!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis, in reply to Islander,

    Good point, of course votes for ordinary people is pretty recent so it takes time to get the wrinkles out
    Still a good point though

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    It's looking like a very high "informal" (ie not counted) votes for part two of the referendum, showing - IMO - yet another badly designed referendum question.

    Lovely shade of orange on those pens I thought...

    Rather lighter than last time, I thought.


    (P.S. Preview is kinda broken)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime,

    Voted at a local school in Dunedin. Since I moved down here from Wellington two weeks ago, there was a bit of faffing about but I updated my details on Monday and in the end I became a special voter.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    I voted for the 15 time, not counting referendums (have a feeling there have been two of those) but for the first time in a slightly larger booth. All the rest were in country schools
    Always a semi-serious day, doing my civil duty, get a bit dressed up and a chance to talk to neighbours as it was today And realising that there will be winners and losers and serious disappointment for some
    It is worth remembering that life does go on and that all most all our politicians do the job because they want to improve all our lives
    Laugh if you will but I say that as someone who is a life long swinging voter who has studied both sides of the equation

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    So, where are people listing, watching, reading (e.g. live blogs) tonight?

    I don't have a teev, so I'm not sure where I should point my browser - whether at a streaming media of some kind, or some interesting people doing a live blog. (Although I assume this thread will fulfil some of the latter, I do want to get an idea of results-as-they-happen).

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Kate Hannah,

    Voted up the road at the Presbytarian church. Kids waited outside while we cast our votes. Tamaki a hard electorate to be a lefty in, as it's one of the safest Nat seats out. But happily double ticked Green. Sun was shining despite the high wind & we wandered round the St Heliers shops & past the beach. Home for turkey & trimmings in a thanksgiving feast & pumpkin & apple crumble to accompany our election watchings. I do like voting. It feels important. It feels real. My foremothers fought hard for me to be able to do this.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2010 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    Keith's map DOES look very funky, and it's gathering stuff already. Very nice.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock, in reply to Gareth Ward,

    If we end up with a second round in 2014, might we be choosing between MMP and Anarchy?

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Gah, 3 News did it again in their news bulletin - "of those people who chose change, a third want FPP". Unbelievable.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Apologies, it was One News that claimed that - John Campbell on 3 doing the same thing earlier.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew E,

    The Aro Valley Community Hall was packed out and a queue out of the door when I went to vote just after lunch. Lovely sunny day in Wellington, so I imagine there'll be a high turnout.

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Bare bones electorate results.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Grevers,

    After a day spent repairing the front of the house and scraping paint, we drove across town to the school where my wife works/our daughter attends since we are much more a part of its community than the school near us. No one else there at 4pm but we knew the polling place manager so had a chat.
    The "I've voted" stickers were useless and fell off after 10 minutes

    New Plymouth • Since Jul 2011 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    Voted at Shirley Primary and it was no hassle even though my easyvote card had never arrived. It was busy but not so busy anyone had to queue. The kids came into the booths with us and are quite interested (and opinionated) in it all.

    Eating a dinner made entirely of red and green foods in front of the election coverage. Anxiety levels high but I'm trying not to start drinking until after pudding.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    iDevice-friendly version of Keith's map:


    http://www.scoop.co.nz/ER/

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    About early results skew, on the Listener's live blog.

    7.40pm: The advance votes are 90% counted. Let’s do some sums. As Antony Green of the ABC says in his blog votes cast early tend to favour National. In 2008 the advance vote for National was 49.15% but the final result 44.93%, while Labour rose from an advance vote of 30.35% to 34.34%.

    This time around, the advance counts (at 90%) are: National 49.7%, Labour 26.9% – on the above calculation that would work out to, roughly, National 45%, Labour 30.5% – a better result for Labour than many predicted – and would leave National needing partners.

    The rest of the advance count: Greens 9.6%, NZ First 6.8%, Maori 1.3%, Mana 1.1%, Act 1.2%, United Future 0.6%.

    At this rate, Winston Peters is returning to parliament as one of eight NZ First MPs.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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