Candidate dos and don’ts: Marlborough releases 2022 election handbook

A picture of a cemetery on campaign material? Believe it or not, someone has tried to make it happen.

Marlborough District Council electoral officer Dean Heiford has shared the dos and don'ts when it comes to campaigning, having released the 2022 Election Handbook.

And while including a cemetery isn't actually illegal, it is distasteful, Heiford said.

"We said ... we recommend you don't do that, you'll be offending people by putting an urupā or a cemetery on your advertising material.

"Another one ... we had a candidate many years ago who handed out a pamphlet with a free coffee voucher on it, which is not allowed as it's potentially seen as a bribe for people to vote for you.

"We've got to try and endorse the rules as much as possible, and educate those that are running."

There were many things to consider, which was why Heiford said he or electoral official Mike Porter would be happy to vet any candidate's advertising material to make sure it met the rules.

"Because in the past I've had candidates spend a lot of money on getting stuff produced, and it can't be used, or it's got to be changed, which is expensive ...

"I'd hate for people to go to the expense of getting a lot of stuff done, and then having to change it or throw it away and start again."

Like usual, titles such as "doctor", "sir" and "dame" were barred from being used next to a candidate's name on the voting paper or profile statement, but could be included in their profile text.

You could not stick election signs within 120 metres of a bridge, curve or intersection.

Signs were also barred from having more than six words, or 40 characters, if they were visible from state highways. And any sign adjacent to a highway must be signed off by Marlborough Roads.

Signage could not imitate a voting document either, often a mistake made in the past, Heiford said.

Meanwhile, entirely new to the election handbook, was guidance for candidates who intended to run in Marlborough's Māori ward (Māori Rohe Pōti).

A person did not have to be of Māori descent or be on the Māori electoral roll to stand for the ward. But only people enrolled in the Māori electoral roll could vote for the ward. Marlborough had 3570 people on the Māori electoral roll, according to the handbook.

The amount a candidate could spend on their campaign was based on the population of that ward, so people running for the Māori ward could spend the least, just $3500.

Candidates for the Marlborough Sounds, Wairau-Awatere and Blenheim wards could spend $7000, $14,000 and $20,000 respectively. People running for mayor could spend up to $30,000.

Candidates had to keep a track of their spending too, and file their return to the electoral officer within 55 days of election results, estimated to be no later than 14 December.

Last election, two former council candidates were reported to police for not declaring what they spent on their election campaign by the deadline. Failure to declare expenses "without reasonable excuse" was an offence and could lead to a fine of up to $1000 under the Local Electoral Act.

But the most important thing to consider, was to get your nomination in on time, Heiford said.

"'Don't leave it until the last minute. I know there are tactics in terms of seeing who else is running, and putting your name forward last in the piece, but if we don't get it in ... it just won't be accepted," he said.

And for the public, make sure you're on the electoral roll, Heiford said.

"Make sure you participate in democracy and vote," he said.

"Last election was under 50 percent which we don't like. But then, a bit of controversy you get a turnout, if everybody is sort of happy with the candidates and what's going on, you tend to get a low turnout."

Candidate nominations open on 15 July and close on 12 August. The election was earmarked for 8 October.

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air.