Tuesday 8 October 2013

Elections 2013: Votes need to be in by noon Saturday to count

To ensure votes are in by deadline on election day, Saturday 12 October, Christchurch voters are being urged to post their completed voting forms by Wednesday 9 October – after that, they’ll need to deliver their votes in person.

Electoral Officer Clare Sullivan says voting is easy, but that the deadline can sneak up on voters.

“Casting your vote and doing your part to get the local government you want is easy. The forms, candidate profile statements and instructions are all provided direct to your letterbox – even the orange FreePost envelope to return your votes in.

“The final day to do this is Wednesday 9 October,” she says. “Post it any later, and your vote may not arrive by the noon deadline on election day, Saturday 12. After Wednesday, the only way to ensure your vote is processed in time is to deliver it by hand to any of the Council’s libraries or service centres.”

Ms Sullivan says one possible obstacle to voters can be easily resolved.

“We understand that a lot of voters have relocated since the earthquakes and that their forms may have ended up at the wrong address,” she says. “Just because your form didn’t arrive doesn’t mean you aren’t on the roll and that you can’t vote. We have staff in three service centres around the city who will be able to provide you with your special voting form. It takes just a few moments. If you need to, you can enrol or change your address right up until Friday 11 October.”

Special votes can be cast at the following locations. Saturday hours have been added to allow for election day voting.

• Civic Offices, Ground Floor, 53 Hereford Street. Monday–Friday, 8.30am–5pm, Saturday 8.30am–noon.
• Shirley Service Centre, 36 Marshland Road. Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm, Saturday 10am–noon.
• Akaroa Service Centre, 28 Rue Jolie, Akaroa Recreation Ground. Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–noon.

There is a ratepayers’ roll and a residents’ roll. People who own a second residence in another ward – for example, a holiday home on Banks Peninsula – may be eligible to vote in that ward for the Community Board as well. These people can download forms from www.ccc.govt.nz/elections, fill them out and return them to clare.sullivan@ccc.govt.nz in order to cast a special vote.

For more information about the elections and how you can vote, phone 0508 440 017 or visit www.ccc.govt.nz/elections

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