Keeping It Fair

Maintaining Impartiality

Kids Voting provides an authentic election experience. As such, principles relating to integrity and impartiality need to be observed in Kids Voting just as they do with the actual election.

Students will be learning about candidates, political parties, electoral systems and the election process. It is important that the information provided, and activities undertaken observe the general requirements for election processes.

It is important in the election period to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates and political parties. There must not be promotion of, or communications that would advantage, particular candidates or political parties.

It's useful to think about these issues prior to starting your election. So, what does this mean for teachers?

We recommend the following measures when undertaking Kids Voting:
  • If you wish to invite candidates to school to discuss local issues then all candidates for your electorate must be invited (for example you can't just invite the current member of Parliament or people you may know personally)
  • If students are gathering information on the candidates then they should gather publicly available information such as flyers, public media or candidate profile statements.
  • If you are dealing with the media in the period leading up to the elections, it is important to maintain impartiality. If you are interviewed about Kids Voting prior to the election it is important that you don't endorse or promote a particular candidate. It is more appropriate to focus on the process and experience of Kids Voting. After the election you may be asked about the results of your Kids Election. You are able to communicate these results to the media freely once the election is over and you have counted your Kids Votes.

Relevant links:

Electoral Act 1993 - http://www.legislation.govt.nz/
Electoral Regulations 1996 - http://www.legislation.govt.nz/
Broadcasting Act 1989 - http://www.legislation.govt.nz/
Electoral Referendum Act 2010 - http://www.legislation.govt.nz/