Voting age, the parliamentary term and political donations are just some of the things the review covers. Photo: 123RF
A groups of experts running a broad review of New Zealand's electoral system is now asking for public input.
The Independent Electoral Review Panel has just published a consultation document seeking feedback on a myriad of electoral changes.
The review's scope is huge, covering almost everything to do with the running of elections including the voting age and overhang rule.
It is also considering changes to the threshold for parties to enter Parliament under the MMP system, the Parliamentary term and political donations.
The consultation document sets out the impacts of possible changes and poses questions about them.
Panel chair Deborah Hart said the public consultation - the first of two rounds during the review - would inform the expert's recommendations.
"We will put a lot of weight on what people have to tell us," she said.
"We want to know what they think are the problems with our electoral system, and how they think they can be improved."
Hart said the panel had not yet discussed the problems and possible solutions of the current system, approaching this public consultation stage with an open mind.
The document, along with an online submission form and information about public meetings can be found on the independent review's website.
The panel is running a series of public meetings, both in-person and virtual, in October ahead of submissions closing on 14 November.
Hart said it was important people engaged during the public consultation because the review was so wide-reaching.
"We haven't had a review like this in a very long time and most of the reviews that we do are not nearly as comprehensive as this," she said.
"So it's a really special opportunity for us all to feed into our electoral process and really try and future proof our electoral system."
The Independent Electoral Review Panel will do a second round of public consultation next year on its recommendations for change.
