Five Million Voices

Should the ratepayer roll be removed from local government elections?

This member's bill would amend local electoral law to abolish the ratepayer roll used for local government elections.

MPs’ arguments for and against the bill

Why support it
  • Supporters argued voting should be based on residence — one person, one vote — not property ownership.
  • Supporters said the separate roll is little used and adds administrative cost.
Why oppose it
  • Opponents argued non-resident ratepayers pay rates and should have a say in how they are spent.
  • Opponents said the roll recognises a legitimate stake in the local area.

These are claims MPs made in Parliament’s debate — not verified facts.

Full bill summary & link to official bill page

This bill amends the Local Electoral Act 2001 to abolish the ratepayer roll used in local council elections. At present, a person who owns property — such as a holiday home or business premises — in a district where they do not live can enrol as a ratepayer elector and cast a vote there, in addition to voting where they actually reside. Removing this roll means people would vote only in the area where they live, reflecting a one-person-one-vote principle.

It is a member's bill from Labour MP Greg O'Connor. The argument in favour is that the ratepayer roll gives some people extra votes based on property ownership, which supporters say breaches the democratic principle of equal voting and is used by very few people. The argument against is that non-resident ratepayers still pay rates and have a genuine stake in local decisions affecting their property, so they should retain a say in how their district is run.

See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.

Oppose (No) Support (Yes)

Local Electoral (Abolition of the Ratepayer Roll) Amendment Bill · First Reading, 20 Mar 2024
Parliament voted 55–68 — it was voted down.