Ready to vote at this year’s General Election?

The countdown to this year’s General Election has started at the Electoral Enrolment Centre as it urges every eligible New Zealander to check whether they’re ready to vote.

The 2005 Enrolment Update Campaign to get people enrolled to vote is now underway.

"In the three years between general elections most people don’t even think twice about whether they’re enrolled to vote" says Murray Wicks, National Manager of the Electoral Enrolment Centre.

"Now is the time to check whether you’re enrolled and your details are right - especially if you’ve never voted before, recently moved house, changed name or turned 18. It only takes a few minutes to check. Do it now and you’ll avoid hassles on election day," says Mr Wicks.

The 2005 Enrolment Update Campaign uses the animated orange ‘elector’ character to draw people’s attention to the need to enrol to vote.

"The orange ‘elector’ character will make its way into hundreds of thousands of households in the country over the next few days in some shape or form," says Mr Wicks.

The orange ‘elector’ is on the front of the 2.75 million personalised Enrolment Update Packs, in television and newspaper advertising, posters and other information to promote the need to enrol to vote.

"When the envelope with the orange elector on it turns up in your letterbox, open it, check your details are right and if they’re not let us know by updating them and returning the form. It only takes a couple of minutes and will set you up to vote at the General Election," says Mr Wicks.

"If you don’t know whether you’re enrolled or you don’t get an Enrolment Update Pack then just fill in an enrolment form and send it to us."

Enrolment forms are available by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56), freetexting your name and address to 3676, visiting any PostShop or going online to *www.elections.org.nz* . You can also check and update your details online at the website.

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