Close Vote Margin Sparks Potential Recount in Wharangi Ward

The tight race for the Wharangi/Onslow-Western ward in the Wellington City Council elections has resulted in a narrow margin of just 45 votes separating the top four candidates. This outcome has raised the possibility of a recount, highlighting the significance of every vote cast in the election.

Labour candidate Joy Gribben missed out on a council seat during the ninth round of the single-transferable voting (STV) process. The competition was fierce, with Ray Chung, who initially sat in fourth place, ultimately claiming the top position in the final count. Rebecca Matthews from the Green Party trailed closely behind, just six votes away from Chung. Diane Calvert, who led in the early rounds, finished only one vote behind Matthews.

Both Chung and Calvert previously ran for the mayoralty but were defeated by Labour’s Andrew Little. Gribben confirmed on Tuesday that she was seeking advice regarding a potential recount, as she is currently 45 votes behind Chung and 38 behind Calvert. The narrow margin means that a recount could alter the outcome for any of the three elected councillors.

Under the STV voting system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. The bottom-polling candidate, in this case, Guy Nunns, was eliminated first, allowing his supporters’ second preferences to be counted. This process continues until three candidates remain.

For Gribben to initiate a recount, she must persuade a district court judge that there is substantial evidence of miscounted votes or, more challengingly, that irregularities occurred during the election process. Warwick Lampp, the electoral officer, stated that the votes were counted electronically using a platform that has been “extensively audited and certified as fit for purpose.” The counting process was overseen by two justices of the peace to ensure transparency.

The recount process was previously attempted in 2019 when former mayor Justin Lester lost to Andy Foster by 62 votes. A judge eventually dismissed the request for a recount after considerable legal expenses were incurred by both parties.

Matthews expressed satisfaction with the high voter turnout in the Wharangi ward, stating, “People do realise the importance of voting.” She extended her best wishes to Gribben and noted that the decision to pursue a recount is entirely Gribben’s to make, acknowledging the high bar for approval.

Calvert, on the other hand, mentioned that she had not considered the possibility of a recount, while Chung could not be reached for comment.

As the situation develops, the focus will remain on the implications of this close electoral contest and whether Gribben will proceed with her request for a recount. The outcome could significantly impact the composition of the Wellington City Council as it moves forward.