Electoral Commission Referral to Police
On 13 March 2012, the Electoral Commission referred the display of an election advertisement on a billboard in Penrose, Auckland on 26 November 2011 to the Police.
It is the Electoral Commission’s view that the display of the advertisement constituted a breach of section 197(1))g)(i) of the Electoral Act 1993 because the billboard was exhibited in a public place on polling day before the close of the poll and was a statement advising, or intended, or likely to influence electors as to the candidate or party for whom they should or should not vote.
As this matter is now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further.