Voters with a view on how the electoral system should be changed can now have their say.



The Electoral Commission today launched a review of MMP.



The review follows a referendum which ran alongside the general election last November and asked people whether MMP should be retained or another system adopted.



More than 57 per cent of voters opted to keep MMP.



The review asks a series of questions including what thresholds parties should have to cross to get list seats in Parliament.



In the last Parliament ACT had five MPs despite only getting 3.65 per cent of the vote.



Currently if a party gets one electorate seat is its allocated list seats. Parties without an electorate must get over 5 per cent of the nationwide vote.



It also asks whether a list MP should be able to stand in a by-election, if candidates should be able to stand in an electorate and on their party's list and who should decide the order of a party list.

The review also looks at the issue of overhang - when a party wins more electorate seats than its entitled to under its party vote share. The Maori Party is an example of a party getting several electorates but a low party vote.



It also raises maintaining the proportionality of the system.



Chief electoral officer Robert Peden said people could make submissions online, in person, by mail or in any other way.



"If people just want to send us a letter, a postcard, send us a piece of art if they think that will convey it to us adequately then they can do that. The important thing is that they tell us what they think."



They wanted everyone to had a chance to have their say.



"The Commission is absolutely determined to give New Zealanders every opportunity to let us know what they think."



The review will not consider changing the Maori seats, nor the number of MPs.



It is also to late to opt for changing to a different electoral system.



Anyone wanting to have their say on how the MMP system should be changed has until May 31.



Public hearings will be held in April and May and a proposal paper launched on August 13.



The Electoral Commission may also conduct market research to gauge general public opinion.



A final report will be presented to Justice Minister Judith Collins on October 31.



The review will cost $1.6 million which will cover the advertising campaign and travel around the country.



The Vote for Change advocates who campaigned to change MMP, have welcomed the review.



Spokesman Jordan Williams said the group wanted to see a change to the 5 per cent threshold and the way a party can get list seats despite not getting over the threshold if they have an electorate MP.



"It is clear that our current voting system isn't perfect and it is important that there is a broad discussion on how we can best improve MMP."

Collins urged people to make submissions on the review.



"I strongly encourage all New Zealanders to take part and have their say in this important process, and to suggest any improvements they'd like to see made to our MMP voting system."



Campaign for MMP spokeswoman Sandra Grey said it was a chance to "iron out any wrinkles" in the scheme.



"It is important that voters don't just leave it to politicians to make changes that suit them."