The people who would benefit most from government
assistance are also the people least likely to
vote.
It is no coincidence that people living
in some of the poorest areas of Tauranga and the Western Bay
of Plenty are also the people who are least likely to vote.
Ten of the thirteen suburbs that had 74% or less of the
population voting were from lower income areas (deprivation
levels seven or above). In fact, one of Tauranga’s most
deprived areas recorded the lowest voter turnout at
65%.
This trend is something observed in voting
participation from several countries. Traditionally, lower
socioeconomic and younger voters are the first to turn away
from the electoral process. When participation is uneven
across communities, the people represented by election
results may not fully reflect the people those decisions
affect.
Are our democratic processes designed around
people with time, confidence, transport, digital access and
political literacy — rather than making it easy
for everyone to vote?
People on low incomes
can be working two jobs, seeking support from WINZ, going to
the food bank, or just generally spending their energy
surviving. They often do not have time to prioritise
listening out for the latest election promises from the
various political parties when their focus is getting food
on the table and keeping the power on.
There can also
be practical barriers. Not everyone has easy access to
transport, the internet or the information needed to enrol,
update their details or understand how and where to vote.
For some in our hapori, a lack of confidence or political
knowledge can also be a barrier.
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And sometimes, people
simply don’t believe that voting will make a difference.
They may choose not to participate because they feel
completely excluded and disconnected from the political
process. Either way, the implications of their voice being
lost are dire. Voters who don’t vote at their
first opportunity are much less likely to vote throughout
their lives. This all means that our voting
population is looking less representative of who we are and
what we need to thrive.
The Electoral Commission does
a great job encouraging people to enrol and update their
details, but they are working against systems that make it
harder for people on lower incomes to participate in the
democratic process. As a result, the people who are often
the most affected by many government policies are also the
ones least likely to vote and have a voice.
People on
low incomes have less to donate to political parties, are
less likely to attend political party fundraisers, and do
not have the same access to politicians that those on higher
incomes or running large businesses may have. They are also
less likely to have the resources to engage public relations
or government relations agencies to lobby politicians and
senior public servants for policies that could help address
persistent, intergenerational disadvantages.
The
voices and interests of low-income people are very often
missing in action, and this has implications for the
strength and representativeness of our democracy as a whole.
It can take just one major life change, such as losing a
job, becoming unwell and unable to work, or experiencing a
marital breakup, for someone to suddenly need government
income support or assistance from community organisations
such as food banks.
At the very least, making it as
easy as possible to vote is essential. But people also need
to feel that their voice and contribution matter, and that
they are not ‘written off’ by political party
policy.
Community organisations are already playing an
important role in encouraging people to enrol before 25
October 2026. With advance voting approaching, there is an
opportunity for all of us to help make sure the people
around us are able to have their say.
Ask your
whānau, friends and workmates if they are enrolled. If they
are not sure, it’s easy to check your enrolment, update your
details or enrol at
vote.nz/enrolling. You can also call 0800 367 656 or
free text 3676.
Democracy works best when
everyone who is eligible has the opportunity to take part.
We need everyone to have their
say.
