Margery Rennie

It was great to read Lynore Craig’s clear and accurate account of this coalition government’s moves to disenfranchise as many people as possible in the full knowledge that it will advantage the right-wing parties, which inevitably benefit from a low voter turn-out (Beacon, July 30).

The debate around this proposal is particularly unpleasant, involving a lot of judgmental comments about the “drop-kicks” who are too lazy to register before election day.

Act MP Todd Stephenson offered this opinion: “It’s outrageous that someone completely disengaged and lazy can rock up to the voting booth, get registered there and then, and then vote to tax other people’s money away.”

This shows the quality of the argument for change. It has nothing to do with streamlining the election process and everything to do with prejudice, self-interest and a desperate bid for power.

The overturning of Labour’s legislation, which enabled registration and voting on the same day right up to election day, is a cynical attempt to manipulate the election result.

The integrity of our democracy is at stake. Wake up people. It’s another Trumpian move by this current Government.