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WELLINGTON: The New Zealand Electoral Commission released security measures on Tuesday (May 12) designed to allow national elections to proceed as planned in September despite the COVID-19 threat.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the election date of September 19 in January, before the global scale of the contagion was evident, and has repeatedly said that she does not plan to move it.
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With New Zealand about to end a seven-week blockade in the coming days, the Election Commission said it had held talks with health authorities on how to safely organize the vote.
“This year’s elections will be different because of COVID-19, a series of measures will be implemented to help keep people safe,” he said.
READ: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern faces election fight, despite worldwide praise
Election Director Alicia Wright said this included queuing, physical distancing, hand sanitizers by the ballot box, and protective gear for people who work at the polls.
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Early voting and voting by mail will be encouraged, especially for seniors and people with existing medical conditions.
The guidelines did not cover other electoral activities such as campaign launches, party rallies and door-to-door scrutiny, all of which are likely to be significantly affected.
Ardern said she had only considered the choice “in passing” while dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
“The election feels, in terms of days, weeks and months, a lifetime away,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“As you might imagine in the midst of a global pandemic, it is not something I have yet thought about.”
Comment: Jacinda Ardern, the leader our difficult times need
Opinion polls conducted earlier this year before the pandemic hit New Zealand showed that Ardern’s center-left Labor Party followed the conservative National Party lightly, but on the way to a narrow victory with the help of partners in the coalition.
Since then, the 39-year-old leader has won worldwide praise for her decisive response to the coronavirus, which has seen the nation of five million record just 21 deaths.
No opinion polls were officially released during the New Zealand shutdown, but research leaked by Labor pollster UMR caused Ardern’s party to head for a landslide last month, with 55% support. 29% of National.
He put Ardern’s approval rating as preferred prime minister at 65 percent.
New Zealand will hold two referendums in conjunction with the September 19 elections on the legalization of cannabis and euthanasia.
