20 September 2013

It’s Time to Vote in the Waikato District

Waikato district voters will be able to cast their votes in the 2013 local authority elections from tomorrow (Saturday 21 September).

Voting papers are being mailed to registered voters today. Most Waikato district residents will start receiving their papers tomorrow, with all papers expected to be delivered by Wednesday 25 September.

This allows two weeks for forms to be filled in and returned before the recommended last day to post of Wednesday 9 October. This will ensure documents arrive before voting closes at midday on Election Day, Saturday 12 October.

People who have not received their papers by 25 September should contact Waikato District Council Electoral Officer Maria Edgar, phone 0800 492 452 or email Maria.Edgar@waidc.govt.nz

The voting papers will use both the First Past the Post (FPP) and Single Transferable Voting (STV) voting systems.

Waikato District Council and Waikato Regional Council elections will be using the FPP system, with voters required to put a tick alongside the candidate/s they wish to vote for. The Waikato District Health Board election will use the STV voting system, with voters required to rank the candidates they want to vote for in order of preference (ie 1, 2, 3, 4, etc).

Voting papers will contain clear instructions on how to vote using both systems. All the FPP elections in the voting papers will be coloured white, while the District Health Board STV election papers will be coloured yellow.

In the 2010 local elections the Waikato district had only a 34 per cent voter turnout, compared to a 49 per cent turnout nationwide.

While 92 per cent of eligible Waikato district voters have enrolled to vote and will be receiving their voting papers, the remaining 8 per cent of eligible voters are not enrolled.

“Although electoral rolls have now closed, people can still enrol to vote. However, they will need to request special voting papers,” Maria Edgar says.

“The last date to enrol is Friday 11 October. I would encourage anyone who has not yet registered to do so and cast a special vote. It’s their opportunity to have a say on how where they live is run over the next three years.”

Enrolment forms and information are available at www.elections.org.nz , by calling 0800 36 76 56 or a form can be collected from any PostShop.

ENDS

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