The bill that sets up a referendum on the MMP electoral system passed its first reading in Parliament today on a unanimous vote.The referendum will be held at the same time as the 2011 general election.It will ask voters firstly whether they want to retai
The bill that sets up a referendum on the MMP electoral system passed its first reading in Parliament today on a unanimous vote.
The referendum will be held at the same time as the 2011 general election.
It will ask voters firstly whether they want to retain MMP and secondly which alternative system they would prefer from a list of options.
If a majority want change, another referendum will be held at the same time as the 2014 general election when MMP will be run off against the preferred option from the first referendum.
If more than 50% of voters opt to retain MMP in the first referendum, the Electoral Commission will undertake a review to consider whether changes to it are necessary or desirable.
Justice Minister Simon Power, who is in charge of the bill, said the referendum fulfilled one of the Government's pre-election promises to reassess how MMP was working after five general elections under the proportional representation system.
The bill has been sent to a special select committee which will hear public submissions.
