Local Electoral Act 2001

Candidate profile statements

61 Candidate profile statements

(1)

Every candidate may provide to the electoral officer a candidate profile statement that complies with subsection (2) and, if applicable, subsection (3).

(2)

A candidate profile statement,—

(a)

if—

(i)

in English or Māori or both, must not exceed 150 words in each of the languages used in the statement:

(ii)

in a language other than English or Māori, must not exceed 150 words, or the equivalent, if the language uses symbols rather than words (including any translation of those words into another language provided by the candidate); and

(b)

must be provided to the electoral officer, together with the nomination paper and other things referred to in section 55(2)(f); and

(c)

must be confined to information concerning the candidate (including any group or organisation with which the candidate claims under section 55(4) to be affiliated, or his or her status as an independent candidate, and the candidate’s contact details), and the candidate’s policies and intentions if elected to office; and

(ca)

must state whether or not the candidate’s principal place of residence, being the address in respect of which the candidate is registered as a parliamentary elector, is in the local government area for which the candidate seeks election (for example, either “My principal place of residence is in the Lambton Ward” or “My principal place of residence is not in the Lambton Ward”); and

(cb)

if the candidate is seeking election to any other positions in elections to which this Act applies (under section 7), must specify each position and state that the candidate is seeking to be elected to the positions; and

(d)

must comply with any prescribed requirements; and

(e)

may include a recent photograph of the candidate alone.

(2A)

The information required by subsection (2)(ca) and (cb) does not count for the purposes of the word limit under subsection (2)(a).

(3)

If a candidate profile statement is submitted in Māori and English, the information contained in each language must be substantially consistent with the information contained in the other language.

(4)

If the electoral officer is not satisfied that a candidate profile statement complies with subsection (2) or, if applicable, subsection (3), the electoral officer must, as soon as practicable, return the statement to the candidate and must—

(a)

specify the concerns of the electoral officer and the reasons for those concerns; and

(b)

unless the candidate profile statement does not comply with subsection (2)(b), specify a period, which must not be less than 3 days from the date of return of the statement, during which the candidate may submit an amended candidate profile statement to the electoral officer.

(5)

A candidate is to be treated as having failed to provide a candidate profile statement, if subsection (4)(b) applies to the candidate and the candidate—

(a)

fails to submit an amended candidate profile statement within the period specified in subsection (4)(b); or

(b)

submits an amended candidate profile statement that, in the opinion of the electoral officer, does not comply with subsection (2) or, if applicable, subsection (3).

(6)

An electoral officer—

(a)

is not required to verify or investigate any information included in a candidate profile statement:

(b)

may include, in or with any candidate profile statement that is published, displayed, or distributed, any disclaimer concerning the accuracy of the information contained in the statement that the electoral officer considers appropriate:

(c)

is not liable in respect of—

(i)

any statement contained in or omitted from the candidate profile statement or the work of a translator prudently selected by the electoral officer; or

(ii)

the exercise of the powers and functions conferred on the electoral officer by this section.

Section 61(2)(b): replaced, on 29 June 2013, by section 18(1) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).

Section 61(2)(c): amended, on 25 December 2002, by section 24(2) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 85).

Section 61(2)(ca): inserted, on 29 June 2013, by section 18(2) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).

Section 61(2)(cb): inserted, on 29 June 2013, by section 18(2) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).

Section 61(2A): inserted, on 29 June 2013, by section 18(3) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 40).

Section 61(4)(b): amended, on 25 December 2002, by section 24(3) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 85).

Section 61(5): amended, on 25 December 2002, by section 24(4) of the Local Electoral Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 85).