Power Simon: Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
Power Simon: Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Volume:669;Page:15688] 
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) 
: 
 I move  
That the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill (No 2) be referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee for consideration. 
This bill amends the Electoral Act in three significant respects. First the bill completes the legislative changes required to establish a single integrated electoral agency with overarching responsibility for electoral administration. Previously three electoral agencies were responsible for carrying out electoral administration. Although by and large they have delivered a quality service several reviews have highlighted flaws in the system and have supported change. The Electoral (Administration) Amendment Act 2010 transferred the functions of the Chief Electoral Officer and former Electoral Commission to a new Electoral Commission. This bill completes the second stage of the reform. It transfers the functions of the Chief Registrar of Electors including responsibility for the electoral roll from the chief executive of New Zealand Post Ltd to the new Electoral Commission on 1 October 2012. Having a single entity with overarching responsibility will enable us to have a more integrated and efficient electoral administration. 
Second this bill will give effect to three recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Committee following its inquiry into the 2008 general election. Electors’ immigration status will be able to be checked at the same time as their enrolment applications are processed rather than after they are enrolled. This will help to ensure that only New Zealand citizens or permanent residents can register as electors. The change will improve the integrity of the roll and as a consequence the validity of the vote. The bill also allows information on applicants for new and renewed New Zealand passports to be provided to the registrar of electors for enrolment purposes. Access to passport information will help to maintain the accuracy of the roll and maximise enrolments. In addition the bill will permit the destruction of paper enrolment records that are securely stored electronically to reduce storage and administration costs. 
Finally this bill will give electors the ability to re-enrol and update their details online without having to complete and sign a written form. This is the first step in a process that will eventually allow electors to use the Internet to enrol. Taking advantage of the Internet will make it as simple as possible for people to participate in elections. 
I would like to commend the electoral agencies involved in this structural reform for their hard work and professionalism during the transition. They have been working on the integration of the agencies at the same time as running a by-election. During this time they have ensured that business as usual including major preparation for next year’s election continues on track. I am sure that this bill will contribute to public confidence in our system and I commend this bill to the House.