Summarised by Centrist
Market researcher Geoff Neal of The Facts’ submission to the NZ Justice Select Committee on the 2023 General Election has gone viral online.
Neal tackled several electoral issues, including concerns about media bias, voting processes, and political advertising. His analysis pointed to systemic flaws impacting voter trust and election outcomes.
Neal criticised the Electoral Commission for brushing off complaints of Labour ads on election day, which he argued reflected potential bias. He also called for stricter penalties for breaches of electoral rules. “When the public service brushes these things aside, we just feel like there’s political bias at play,” Neal stated, adding that such incidents erode voter confidence.
Neal cited a poll where 79% of respondents opposed lowering the voting age. He urged parties to prioritise issues voters care about instead of pursuing “unpopular policies.”
He highlighted bias in ballot paper design, showing data from Auckland’s local elections where candidates listed alphabetically were disproportionately elected. Neal advocated for randomised ballot orders to ensure fairness.
On media bias, Neal cited research showing that two-thirds of NZ journalists identify as left-leaning, contributing to public distrust. He called for legislation to ensure impartiality in state-funded media, stating, “Only one-third of citizens trust the media now.”
