25 July 2005

Chief Electoral Office Ministry of Justice

General Election Preparations In Full Swing

The Chief Electoral Office's preparations for a general election on Saturday 17 September are well under way.

"We are in the process of securing about 2,700 polling places and recruiting around 16,000 people to work on Election Day," says Chief Electoral Officer David Henry.

The EasyVote card introduced for the 2002 general election will be used again this year.

All eligible voters that are enrolled by 17 August 2005 will receive an EasyVote card and voting information pack in the mail a week before Election Day.

"Voters should take their EasyVote card with them when they go to vote, it will make voting easier," says Mr Henry.

Voters who will be overseas or away from home will be able to vote before Election Day. Advance voting facilities will be open from 31 August.

"Voters who are overseas will be able to download voting papers from www.elections.org.nz from 31 August and fax them back to the Chief Electoral Office in Wellington."

Voters who are unable to get to a polling place on Election Day can also vote in advance at an advance voting facility from 31 August.

Key dates in the election process are:

2005 GENERAL ELECTION TIMETABLE

Thurs 11 August Dissolution of Parliament

Weds 17 August Writ Day Governor General issues formal direction to the Chief Electoral Officer to hold the election. Electoral Rolls close for printing. Voters enrolled after this date cast special declaration votes.

Thurs 18 August Nominations called for by Public Notice Advertising calling for individual nominations of electorate candidates.

Mon 22 August Bulk Nominations Noon Deadline for registered political parties to bulk nominate their electorate candidates to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Tues 23 August Party Lists Noon Deadline for political parties to submit list candidates to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Tues 23 August Individual Nominations Noon Deadline for individual nominations of electorate candidates to Returning Officers.

Weds 24 August Candidate Information Names of all electorate and list candidates released by Chief Electoral Officer. Production of ballot paper begins.

Weds 31 August Advance Voting starts in New Zealand Advance voting available for voters who are away from home or unable to get to a polling place on Election Day [details of locations will be available from about 19 August].

Weds 31 August Overseas Voting starts Overseas voters can download voting papers from www.elections.org.nz, vote by post or vote in person at 58 overseas posts.

Sat 10 September EasyVote Information Packs available Information packs with EasyVote card sent to voters enrolled by 17 August.

Fri 16 September Enrolments cease Last day to enrol for the election.

Advance Voting ceases

Fri 16 September Midnight All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down

Sat 17 September Election Day

Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm.

Sat 17 September Election Night

Preliminary results released progressively from 7pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz. Targets for release: * by 8.30pm all advance vote results * by 10.00pm results from 50% of polling places * by 11.30pm results from 100% of polling places.

Sat 1 October Official Results declared (including special declaration votes).

Weds 5 October Deadline for applications for Judicial Recount.

Thurs 6 October Return of Writ by Chief Electoral Officer showing successful electorate candidates*

Fri 7 October Declaration of Election of List Members *

*if recount required, then return of writ, final results and election of list members will be delayed by 4-5 days.

ENDS

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