This model also encounters objections. PvdA Member of Parliament and former Speaker of Parliament Arib, for example, believes that by only giving the candidates a number, the bond between voter and candidate disappears. BBB MP Van der Plas says that farmers may also give their cows numbers, but at least they still know where Klara-23 is and how she is doing.
Ollongren says that the voter can look up which candidate belongs to which number in another way. The names are just not printed on the note. She also wants to know whether a new ballot paper with pictures and numbers works better for low-literate people. She wants to experiment with this model 2 in a few municipalities during the municipal elections in March 2022.
City Councils
If the House of Representatives and then the Senate agree to the law, the municipal councils where the experiments are planned can also express themselves. It is therefore possible that few or no municipalities want to participate in the trial.
The VVD thinks it is all short day. Member of Parliament Ellian: “The municipal councilors should be busy with other things just before the elections, such as the fun of the campaign and contacts with voters.” He also finds it unclear why these two models were chosen on the basis of experiences in Norway and other countries.
“Is it wise to continue with this”, asks SP MP Leijten. “There is quite a lot of resistance here, and there is an annoying time pressure.” Ollongren admits that time has become tight, but insists that it makes sense to allow an experiment because of the problem of the large ballots. She has promised the House that if that is not possible in the upcoming municipal elections, the experiment will be postponed to the next elections.
Ollongren did it proposal in May 2020 and sent additional information to the House of Representatives in June 2021. It was finally discussed today. It is still unclear whether the House of Representatives will agree to the law. It will be voted on next week.
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