Monday 5 July 2004

Enrolment Update Campaign For Local Elections Underway Today

The enrolment update campaign for this year’s local council and district health board elections gets underway today with the mailout of 2.7 million personalised update packs to all registered electors.

Once people receive their packs they need to check their current enrolment details and only need to send the enclosed form back if their details need changing.

“As this year’s local elections will all be held by postal ballot, only electors who are correctly listed on the electoral roll will receive voting packs in the mail and be eligible to take part,” said Electoral Enrolment Centre National Manager Mr Wicks. “This means that it’s really important that anyone who’s moved address or changed their name or occupation recently checks their details to make sure these are correct.”

Mr Wicks expects all the update packs to be delivered by Wednesday 7 July.

“Anyone who hasn’t received a pack by then is either not on the electoral roll or is incorrectly enrolled and will need to fill in a new enrolment form. Enrolment forms and information are available from any Post Shop, public library or local council office, by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or from the elections website www.elections.org.nz,” said Mr Wicks.

“People can also check and update their enrolment details or enrol online.”

Mr Wicks said the campaign also aims to encourage unenrolled electors to enrol in time to have their say in the elections.

“This will include activities targeted at young people who have turned 18 since the 2002 general election. We will also be working with the leaders of community and ethnic groups to encourage them to assist us in taking the enrolment message into the wider community,” he said.

The last day for people to enrol or update their details for the printed electoral roll is 20 August.

“However, we’re encouraging people to update their details as soon as possible to ensure they’re ready to vote. As the Te Tai Hauauru by-election has shown, electoral events can happen at any time so it pays to be correctly enrolled at all times.”

Voting papers will be sent to registered electors in late September.

ENDS

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