The Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board byelection has been land with allegations of voter interference. Photo / File
The police are being brought in to investigate an allegation of voter disturbance at an Auckland Council byelection within the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
One of the candidates, Malcolm Turner of that right-leaning Communities & Residents core, says he has received several reviews of a person knocking on front doors and asking to collect their voting papers.
In a refund claim to the electoral officer, Dale Ofsoske, he said an elderly resident “thought this may have been a candidate except could not confirm”.
Within the allegations filed with Ofsoske, someone from Mangere Bridge said provides you with the “made the elderly fill in their paperwork and hand it to them”.
Another one of the filed allegations said: “Something strange come about Thursday night at my mother’s when Mangere Bridge. A Polynesian most people knocked on my mother’s door seven asking if she receive(d) their election papers… he asked suppose he could take it as he was picking up them. ”
In a very press statement on the C & R website, Turner said “three residents had confirmed the character of the person and unfortunately it is usually alleged to be a candidate”.
He declined to name the candidate.
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Ofsoske today talked about he had received the complaint moreover under electoral law would apply the matter to the police tomorrow to examine.
The candidates’ help and advice guide says “voting documents really should not collected from electors by students or their assistants. Each electorado should post or deliver for voting document to the electoral officer”.
There are six appliers standing in the byelection: Sharon Bragg (independent), Phil Bridge (NZ Exterior Party), Christian Malietoa-Brown, Papaliitele Lafulafu Peo (Labour), Elnez Tofa, Malcolm Turner (Communities & Residents).
Voting packs decided on January 26 and voting closes at noon on December 17.
The byelection followed the resignation of Dr Nenu Leavasa – one of 4 new Pasifika MPs elected in order to Parliament last October.
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