Tuesday 30 August 2005
Chief Electoral Office Ministry of Justice
Advance Voting Begins Tomorrow
Advance voting starts tomorrow (Wednesday 31 August) for people who can't get to a polling place in their electorate on
Election Day, 17 September.
"Voters can vote at one of 227 advance voting facilities throughout the country," says Chief Electoral Officer David
Henry.
"We're encouraging anyone who can't get to a polling place in their electorate on Election Day to vote in advance," says
Mr Henry. "This avoids them missing out on voting or having to cast a special declaration vote on Election Day.
"In particular, we're urging people who will be overseas or travelling in New Zealand to vote in advance," says Mr
Henry.
"In addition, if for other reasons you can't vote on Election Day, then you can vote in advance from 31 August 2005.
"Advance voting may also be a good option for people with disabilities. The majority of advance voting facilities will
either be fully accessible or accessible with assistance for voters with disabilities."
Details of advance voting facilities, including their accessibility ratings, are available from the elections website
www.elections.org.nz, by calling 0800 36 76 56 or from local Returning Officers.
In 2002, over 130,000 people voted in advance. Advance votes accounted for six percent of votes cast in the 2002 General
Election.
ENDS