A bill tightening the rules on funding for local body election campaigns is on track to be passed before this year's local elections.
Local Electoral Amendment Bill caps anonymous donations at $1500 and puts more onus on those involved in a campaign to declare who donors are.
It was introduced after the police investigation into John Banks' 2010 mayoral campaign returns.
Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee has reported back on the bill and has recommended changes.
These include a three-year timeframe for prosecutions for filing false returns and a new requirement for local authorities to make candidate returns readily available.
The law change is supported by Labour, and by the Greens who say the bill should go further and put limits on third party campaign spending in local elections.
Internet voting
In submissions, the committee was asked to consider a change in the regulations to allow internet voting this year.
Committe chairman and National MP Scott Simpson said there wasn't time to fully address security concerns around voting online.
The mayor of Porirura City Council, Nick Leggett, is disappointed and says his council is ready to run an e-voting pilot.
Mr Leggett met Local Government Minister, Chris Tremain, last week and asked him to make the necessary changes.
The mayor said he is confident his council could hit the ground running and hold the trial this year, if the Government is willing.
He said elections are already held online for organisations such as boards and iwi authorities, and it makes sense to offer the option of e-voting in local elections.
Mr Tremain said he is open minded about the proposal and wants a briefing from officials. However, because of the tight timeframe, he doubts a trial will be able to be put in place for later this year.
