The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is investigating claims that hospital patients in Auckland were unable to vote in the general election because of inadequate access to voting services.
Union delegate Sophie Tomes told state-funded media at least 12 bedridden patients at North Shore Hospital missed out, while nurses also faced difficulties voting because of lengthy queues and work commitments.
The union claims mobile voting services were insufficient and had previously requested greater access on election day.
However, the Electoral Commission said it had worked with hospitals to arrange voting facilities, including takeaway ballots distributed to patients at Middlemore Hospital on the Friday before polling day and collected on election day.
The union is surveying members at both hospitals to establish how many patients may have been affected.
Image credit: Miguel Ausejo
The communists look for/devise more ways to steal a “democratic” election.