The Government has taken the first legislative step towards holding a referendum on the electoral system at the next general election.
Justice Minister Simon Power on Thursday introduced a Bill to Parliament setting out how the referendum will be conducted, including advertising rules.
The referendum will first ask voters whether they wish to retain the current Mixed Member Proportional system, or MMP.
The second question will ask voters which alternative system they prefer out of First-Past-The-Post, Preferential Vote, Single Transferable Vote and Supplementary Member.
Mr Power says if the majority of voters opts for a change, there will be a binding referendum in 2014 to pick between MMP and the most preferred alternative.
