Early voting began on 2 October 2023 for New Zealand’s general election scheduled for 14 October 2023. National Party leader Christopher Luxon also voted in this election. On the other hand, early voting is ongoing in some parts of Australia for a referendum affecting the lives of indigenous people. [1]
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ election campaign suffered a blow when he tested positive for Covid-19 on 1 October 2023. Hipkins stated that he would be isolated for 5 days, or until he received a negative test result, but that he planned to continue some activities on Zoom. Hipkins and the liberal Labour Party have fallen behind the opposition Luxon-led National Party in the polls. Hipkins has stated that he will work twice as hard when he returns to the campaign [2]
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ positive Covid-19 test reflects the fact that the pandemic is still a topical issue and the challenges for politicians to manage their campaigns in this context. The shift of campaigns to digital platforms and the growing importance of online events has become an important tool for politicians to sustain their campaigns and connect with voters.
As voting is compulsory in Australia, 98 per cent of those eligible were registered to vote in the referendum. Early voting began in four states on 2 October 2023. The remaining four states began voting on 3 October 2023. Although the “Yes” campaign was trailing in the polls, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who supported the change, expressed optimism. [3] In a speech in Melbourne, Albanese made the following statements [4]
“I know that many people have not yet made up their minds, and I know that when people discuss these issues, they are quite comfortable voting ‘Yes’ to the majority’s desire for acceptance. The key to the next fortnight is one-to-one conversations with people on these issues”
Opponents of this referendum say that it should be supported on a party-wide basis and that there are many unanswered questions about how the group will work in practice. Coincidentally, the New Zealand election and the Australian referendum will both take place on 14 October 2023 [5]
Early voting in New Zealand and Australia highlights the importance of democratic elections and referendums and the impact of early organisation to ensure participation. These processes are organised to increase voter turnout and encourage early involvement in the political process. In Australia in particular, compulsory voting is an important element in keeping turnout rates high and ensuring that the community is actively involved in the political process. In this context, Australia shows that although it is located in Oceania, it has a Western-based conjuncture.
Furthermore, the referendum appears to be a step towards more effective involvement of indigenous people in the political process in Australia. The constitutional guarantee of a mechanism to consult directly with Parliament on policies affecting the lives of Indigenous people may encourage the direct participation of different segments of society in the policy-making process. However, the opposition of some political opponents to this referendum and uncertainty about the details of its implementation highlight the complexities of such reforms and how to ensure the participation of wider society.
As a result, these developments reflect the diversity and complexity of democratic processes. Elections and referendums are important tools to increase public participation in the political process and identify representatives. At the same time, unexpected events such as pandemics can affect political processes and force politicians to develop new strategies. Such events can test the flexibility and adaptability of democratic processes, raising important questions about the resilience of democracy.
[1] “Early Voting Begins in New Zealand’s General Election and in Australia for Indigenous ‘Voice’”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-new-zealand-australia-9e1bfd5aebed0108c1f8d3c1b2882972, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.10.2023).
[2] “Early Voting Begins in New Zealand’s General Election and in Australia for Indigenous ‘Voice’”, Bold News, https://boldnewsonline.com/early-voting-begins-in-new-zealands-general-election-and-in-australia-for-indigenous-voice/, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.10.2023).
[3] “Early Voting Begins in New Zealand’s General Election and in Australia for Indigenous ‘Voice’”, Us Times Post, https://ustimespost.com/early-voting-begins-in-new-zealands-general-election-and-in-australia-for-indigenous-voice/, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.10.2023).
[4] “Early Voting Begins in New Zealand’s General Election and in Australia for Indigenous ‘Voice’”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/early-voting-new-zealand-australia-9e1bfd5aebed0108c1f8d3c1b2882972, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.10.2023).
[5] “Early Voting Begins in New Zealand’s General Election and in Australia for Indigenous ‘Voice’”, Bold News, https://boldnewsonline.com/early-voting-begins-in-new-zealands-general-election-and-in-australia-for-indigenous-voice/, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.10.2023).
