The elector enrolment update campaign for this year’s local council and district health board elections gets underway today, Thursday 2 August.

New Zealand Post’s Electoral Enrolment Centre (EEC) is managing the campaign to raise awareness about the elections and the need for some 2.77 million eligible electors to be correctly enrolled to vote in them.

EEC National Manager Murray Wicks said the campaign aims to ensure as many eligible electors as possible are enrolled to vote and that the electoral rolls used by local councils are as accurate and up to date as possible.

“This involves encouraging all unenrolled electors to register to vote so that they can have their say in the elections, and urging registered electors to check to make sure their enrolment details are correct,” said Mr Wicks.

From today, all registered electors will be sent a personalised update pack outlining their current enrolment details. People need to check this information and only need to send the enclosed form back if their details need changing.

“As this year’s 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 Mr Wicks. “This means that it’s really important that anyone who’s changed their name, address or occupation, checks their enrolment details and updates these.”

Mr Wicks said that registered electors who haven’t received a pack by 5 August are not on the current electoral roll 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.

“Eligible electors can also check and update their enrolment details or enrol online,” said Mr Wicks.

The last day for people to make changes or enrol is 31 August. Voting papers will be sent to registered electors from 21 September and will need to be returned by midday on Saturday 13 October.

Mr Wicks said a programme of advertising and public and community relations activities would take place throughout the campaign.

“This will include activities targeted at young people who have turned 18 since the 1999 general election. We will also be working with the leaders of community and ethnic groups to gain their support for taking the enrolment message into the wider community,” he said.

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