MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 4 June 2008
Electoral Enrolment Centre

Almost 50,000 Kiwis Removed From Electoral Roll

Almost 50,000 people have been removed from the electoral roll in the past month – the same as a complete electorate of voters losing the right to vote or about the same as the winning margin of party votes recorded at the 2005 election.

In the past month the Electoral Enrolment Centre’s enrolment drive has seen 49,641 people taken off the electoral roll because their enrolment update packs have been returned as undeliverable.

“We are talking serious numbers of people who have been removed from the electoral roll because they’ve changed their address and not updated their enrolment details. They now need to re-enrol so their votes will count at this year’s election,” says Murray Wicks, National Manager, Electoral Enrolment Centre.

 The Wellington Central, Dunedin North, Ikaroa Rāwhiti, Waiariki and Auckland Central electorates have had the most voters removed from the rolls.

 19,753 (40 percent) removed from the electoral rolls are aged 18 to 29 years.

“Whenever you shift house or flat you must update your enrolment details to ensure you stay enrolled to vote,” says Mr Wicks. “It’s not too late for people to enrol. We are urging them to do it now and be ready to vote whenever the election is held.

“If you didn’t get a personalised enrolment update pack early in May then you need to enrol.

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

The enrolment drive, which includes a multi media and communications programme as well as working in the community to reach people eligible to vote, continues right up until the day before election day.

The drive has been going for a month and 90.4 percent of the estimated eligible voting population or 2.836 million are now correctly enrolled to vote.

Information about enrolling to vote is available in 21 languages from www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

See.. full release with regional details (PDF)

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