What should be included in the referendum question?

New Zealand

Answer

Source

Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993

( Enacted on 28 September 1993)

Article 10, Criteria.

(1)The wording of theprecise question to be put to the voters, as determined under section 11 bythe Clerk of the House of Representatives,—

(a)shall be such as to convey clearly the purpose andeffect of the indicative referendum; and

(b)shall be such as to ensure that only 1 of2 answers may be given to the question.

(2)Subject to subsection (1), the Clerk of the House ofRepresentatives, in making a determination under section 11,—

(a)shall take intoaccount—

(i)the proposalsubmitted under section 6; and

(ii)any comments receivedunder section 7(2)(b); and

(iii)the consultation thattook place under section 9; and

(b)may take into accountsuch other matters as the Clerk of the House of Representatives considersrelevant.

(Government InitiatedReferendum)

Referenda (Postal Voting) Act 2000;

(Enacted on 14 November 2000)

Article7, Form of voting paper.

(1)The voting paper used in agovernment initiated referendum—

(a)must have a heading that—

(i)begins with the words “REFERENDUMON”; and

(ii)states the subject of thereferendum; and

(b)must have an explanatory notethat—

(i)has the heading “Explanation”; and

(ii)explains—

(A)the purpose of the voting paper;and

(B)the effect of the referendum; and

(iii)specifies—

(A)the referendum material, if any,accompanying the voting paper that summarises the subject of the referendum;and

(B)the title and date of governmentpublications, if any, intended to provide electors with a full description ofthe subject of the referendum; and

(c)must also—

(i)set out the proposal andresponses worded as specified in an Order in Council made under section 6(1); and

(ii) set out instructions on how tovote and how to return the voting paper; and

(iii)provide a space for electors toindicate the response for which they wish to vote; and