Electoral reform in New Zealand

=== Second-ballot system 1908–1913 ===

=== Second-ballot system 1908–1913 ===

The second-ballot system was introduced in the [[Second Ballot Act 1908]] and was one of the first substantive reforms to the mechanism by which winning candidates are elected to Parliament to be seen in New Zealand.<ref name=”:1″ /> This system modified the original first-past-the-post electoral system to require the winning candidate in each electorate to have gained over 50% of the overall votes cast within their constituency. When the leading candidate did not achieve this, a second ballot would be held a week later featuring only the two leading candidates, to assure an [[absolute majority]] of votes was achieved. This method is otherwise known as [[runoff voting]]. However, this system only remained in place for five years as it was abolished in 1913 due to its supposed inequitable nature in the emerging party environment of Parliament.<ref name=”:1″ />

The second-ballot system was introduced in the [[Second Ballot Act 1908]] and was one of the first substantive reforms to the mechanism by which winning candidates are elected to Parliament to be seen in New Zealand.<ref name=”:1″ /> This system modified the original first-past-the-post electoral system to require the winning candidate in each electorate to have gained over 50% of the overall votes cast within their constituency. When the leading candidate did not achieve this, a second ballot would be held a week later featuring only the two leading candidates, to assure an [[absolute majority]] of votes was achieved. This method is otherwise known as [[Two-round system|runoff voting]]. However, this system only remained in place for five years as it was abolished in 1913 due to its supposed inequitable nature in the emerging party environment of Parliament.<ref name=”:1″ />

=== Return to first past the post ===

=== Return to first past the post ===