Candidate’s Protest Over Late Votes Triggers Police Investigation

A chaotic incident at a polling location in Auckland has led to a police investigation after a local candidate attempted to halt voting and allegedly photographed voters. The situation unfolded at the Onehunga library shortly after the Noon deadline on March 16, 2024, when Debbie Burrows, a sitting member of the Maungakiekie local board, confronted election staff and voters.

On the final day of voting, a total of 67,000 people cast their votes at 250 locations across the city in the 24 hours leading up to the deadline. Despite this effort, voter turnout in Auckland remained low, with only 28.7 percent of registered electors participating by Saturday lunchtime. This marks a significant decline compared to the 35 percent turnout in the previous election.

The incident escalated when Burrows entered the library after the polling cutoff, insisting that voting should be stopped. According to eyewitness accounts, she claimed that those allowed to cast their votes were too late. Burrows raised the issue with Dale Ofsoske, the returning officer from Election Services, but library staff maintained that individuals already inside were permitted to vote.

Burrows’ actions drew objections from voters, including Priyanca Radhakrishnan, a former member of parliament, who expressed concern that Burrows’ intervention could be seen as a form of voter suppression. Radhakrishnan attempted to contact Ofsoske to report the situation.

As the situation became more tense, library staff requested Burrows to leave, but she remained outside for some time. Ofsoske later confirmed that police were called to address the dispute. “Anyone who was inside the library when voting closed at 12 noon was legitimately able to cast their vote,” he stated. He also noted that this incident was the only issue reported on the day of voting across Auckland.

Despite the last-minute rush to vote, Lou-Ann Ballantyne, Auckland Council’s general manager of governance and engagement, expressed disappointment over the low participation rate. She remarked, “There is no straightforward solution to get more Aucklanders voting,” highlighting ongoing challenges despite efforts to enhance accessibility.

In response to the poor turnout, Mayor Wayne Brown suggested a return to traditional in-person voting at booths throughout the day. He attributed the decline to changing demographics, noting that renters, who tend to vote less frequently, are becoming a larger segment of the population. “Possibly they weren’t as excited by the contest this time,” he said, referring to the lack of engagement among voters.

Auckland Council previously reviewed its voting processes after the low turnout in 2022, considering options to combine postal and booth voting to increase participation. However, these suggestions have yet to be implemented, with concerns about costs affecting the decision to expand voting options.

The preliminary count of votes, including those processed in the final hours before the deadline, is expected to be released shortly. The final results will be made public by March 22, 2024.