Wellington, July 14 NZPA - Voters are split on what electoral system they prefer, a poll released today said.

The poll commissioned by "Put MMP to the Vote", a campaign for an referendum on the electoral system is led by journalist Graeme Hunt and businessman Peter Shirtcliffe.

Both have long been opponents of MMP.

The poll recorded that 41 percent support MMP compared with 40 percent for the old first past the post system (FPP), although FPP was last used in 1993.

Fewer than one in three electors (32 percent) believed MMP has had a positive impact on the quality of government.

Hunt said nearly two-thirds of those polled wanted a referendum on the electoral system, which the Government has promised will happen in 2011.

Hunt believed the poll showed people wanted to have a say on the future of MMP.

"The poll suggests that the public would be willing to sacrifice full proportionality for minor parties in return for a smaller, more accountable Parliament," Hunt said.

"We should not forget that in 1999 people voted overwhelmingly in a non-binding citizens-initiated referendum for a 99-member Parliament. No government has ever acted upon this."

The decision to hold a referendum was welcomed.

"We want to ensure that it follows an informed campaign and that New Zealanders are able to look at a range of electoral options if they reject MMP."

The UMR Research poll of 750 New Zealanders aged 18 and over was conducted from July 2 to July 6 had a margin of error of 3.6 percent.