MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Chief Electoral Office Ministry of Justice

New Zealanders Overseas Start Voting In The 2008 General Election From Today

New Zealanders around the world can start voting in the 2008 General Election - downloading their voting papers from www.elections.orgnz ( http://www.elections.org.nz/ ) or going to vote at one of the 64 overseas posts in 44 countries.

The Chief Electoral Office is making voting easy and accessible for the New Zealanders living, holidaying or working overseas who want to vote in the election.

New Zealanders overseas are eligible to vote if they meet the enrolment criteria and are properly enrolled.

"The easiest option is for people to get their voting papers off the website www.elections.org.nz ( http://www.elections.org.nz/ ) and fax or post them back so we receive them by 7pm, Election Day, Saturday 8 November," says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer.

"People overseas can also apply to have voting papers posted to them or they can vote in person at an overseas post."

People can vote overseas in person at places as diverse as Ross Base, Moscow, Buenos Aires and Tehran.

"New Zealanders in Australia can vote in Adelaide, Brisbane, two places in Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and four places in Sydney."

New Zealanders in Fiji can vote at the New Zealand High Commission in Fiji.

Amongst those voting overseas are defence troops in Townsville, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. There are also 175 troops on board the frigate HMNZS TE KAHA sailing to Singapore, who will vote on board when they dock.

In the 2005 general election 28,145 overseas votes were cast.

Voting papers must be received at an overseas post no later than 4pm 7 November local time.

A list of the overseas posts where votes are being issued is available from http://www.elections.org.nz/files/E1-List_09102008.pdf. Information for voters who are overseas is also available from www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

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