Competition for Worst Enrolled City Council in the Country as Local Elections Enrolment Drive Launched

People in Palmerston North, Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Auckland are competing for the title as the worst enrolled city in the country - as an enrolment drive for the upcoming local elections gets underway.

Everyone enrolled to vote is being sent an enrolment update pack in the mail from tomorrow (Monday 5 July) to check their details are correct. Anyone who doesn't get a pack by Thursday (8 July) isn't enrolled and won't be sent voting papers for the local council and district health board elections.

"We know there are at least 241,000 people nationwide who won't get an enrolment update pack because they aren't enrolled. There are tens of thousands more who will miss out because they have moved house and not told us their new address," says Murray Wicks, National Manager of the Electoral Enrolment Centre.

"Now is the chance to do something about it. If you don't get a pack this week you are not enrolled. You need to enrol. It's quick and easy to do."

There are six cities whose enrolment numbers put them amongst the lowest enrolled cities and districts.

People in Palmerston North City Council's area have the worst city enrolment record in the country - with just 87.62 percent enrolled to vote. More than 7,500 people eligible to enrol haven't done so.

In close second place is Dunedin City Council, with 88.30 percent of people enrolled to vote, and more than 11,600 eligible to enrol who are not.

People living in the Auckland Council area account for 39.33 percent of the total number of people in the country not enrolled to vote - with almost 97,000 people not enrolled.

Council

Percent of estimated eligible population enrolled

Number not enrolled

1

Palmerston North City

87.62%

7,576

2

Dunedin City

88.30%

11,633

3

Wellington City

90.15%

15,247

4

Christchurch City

90.28%

28,024

5

Hamilton City

90.88%

9,526

6

Auckland

90.92%

96,916

The local council and district health board elections will be by postal vote - if you're not enrolled, or your details aren't up-to-date, you won't get your voting papers sent to you.

"Check that the details in your enrolment update pack delivered this week are correct. If you need to change anything, fill in the form, then sign, date and return it straight away," says Mr Wicks. "If you don't get an enrolment update pack you are not ready to vote. You need to enrol. Show you care."

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

ENDS

© Scoop Media