Today, I printed off my New Zealand voting papers, ticked my boxes, had Maru sign as my witness, and uploaded them to the New Zealand Electoral Commission’s website.
It was insanely easy. I was amazed how seamless it was for me to take part in New Zealand’s democratic process.
Specifically, I got to have my say on:
1) the party I hope will govern for the next 4 years,
2) the candidate who will represent my area (and my family),
3) whether I think recreational marijuana should be legalised, and
4) whether I think a terminally ill person should be able to request assisted dying.
These are all consequential issues—the impacts of which will be felt for many years to come. In the current, uneasy global political climate, I’m grateful to have had an opportunity to vote, and to have my voice be counted in a fair, free, and democratic society.
I never want to take that for granted.