MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 21 May 2013
Electoral Commission
Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri

Check Now to Make Sure You Can Vote in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-Election

Check your enrolment now if you want to vote in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election - that’s the message from the Electoral Commission in the lead-up to the 29 June by-election.

“You can only vote in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election if you are eligible and correctly enrolled,” says Sue Braybrook, Registrar of Electors for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate.

“This includes those living in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate who are already on the Māori electoral roll, those who enrol for the first time onto the Māori roll, and those who use their Māori Electoral Option choice to change from the General to the Māori roll.”

To be eligible to enrol in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate you must:
• Be 18 years of age or over; and
• Be of New Zealand Māori descent; and
• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months at some time; and
• Have been living in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate for one month or more.

“The Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election will be taking place during the 2013 Māori Electoral Option, so it is important that Māori understand what their choice means,” says Sue Braybrook.

“You can make your choice only once during the Option period, and that decision will be binding for all general elections and by-elections until the next Option which is scheduled for 2018. It is an important decision, and shouldn’t be made lightly.”

Enrolling or updating your details is quick and easy. Enrolment forms are available from the elections website www.elections.org.nz, by Freetexting your name and address to 3676, from any PostShop or by calling Freephone 0800 36 76 56. People can update their details by filling in an enrolment form or going online to www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

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