MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 12 September 2008
Chief Electoral Office
Ministry of Justice

ELECTION DATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUTS
CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICE IN TOP GEAR

The Chief Electoral Office will now swing in to full gear to make voting as easy and accessible as possible for voters for the 2008 general election on Saturday 8 November 2008.

The 2008 general election will be run under new electorate boundaries – with one additional electorate Botany in Auckland and name or boundary changes to most other electorates.

“Our Returning Officers in each electorate will now move to confirm the locations of about 2,700 polling places and 270 advance voting places across the country and recruit and train around 16,000 people to work on Election Day,” says Chief Electoral Officer, Robert Peden.

“Our focus is on running an accurate and smooth election, and making voting easy and accessible.”

Everyone enrolled by 8 October 2008 will get their personalised EasyVote card and information pack in the mail to take with them when they vote.

“The EasyVote card will make voting easier and more straightforward,” says Mr Peden. “We encourage people to take their EasyVote card with them when they vote.”

Polling places will be open from 9.00am until 7.00pm on Election Day, Saturday 8 November 2008.

Anyone who can’t get to a polling place on Election Day or who is overseas will be able to vote in advance. Advance voting opens from 22 October 2008.

“Voters who are overseas will be also able to download voting papers from www.elections.org.nz from 22 October 2008 and fax or post them back to the Chief Electoral Office in Wellington,” says Mr Peden

More information including the election timetable will be available from www.elections.org.nz.

2008 GENERAL ELECTION TIMETABLE

Friday 3 October Dissolution of Parliament

Tuesday 7 October Last Day for registration of parties/logos with the Electoral Commission

Wednesday 8 October 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.
Candidate and party television and radio advertising may start

Thursday 9 October Nominations called for by Public Notice
Advertising calling for individual nominations of electorate candidates.

Monday 13 October Bulk Nominations
Noon Deadline for registered political parties to bulk nominate their electorate candidates to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Tuesday 14 October Party Lists
Noon Deadline for political parties to submit list candidates to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Tuesday 14 October Individual Nominations
Noon Deadline for individual nominations of electorate candidates to Returning Officers.

Wednesday 15 October Candidate Information
2.00pm target Names of all electorate and list candidates released by Chief Electoral Officer. Production of ballot paper begins.

Thursday 16 October Polling Place and Advance Voting Place details available
2.00pm target

Friday 17 October Last day for listing third parties to the Electoral Commission

Wednesday 22 October 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.

Wednesday 22 October Overseas Voting starts
Overseas voters can download voting papers from www.elections.org.nz, vote by post or vote in person at 64 overseas posts in 44 countries.

Saturday 1 November EasyVote Information Packs available
Information packs with EasyVote card sent to voters enrolled by
8 October.

Friday 7 November Enrolments cease
Last day to enrol for the election.

Advance Voting ceases at 6.00pm

Friday 7 November
Midnight All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down

Saturday 8 November Election Day
Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm.

Election Night
Preliminary results released progressively from 7.00pm 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.

Saturday 22 November Official Results declared (including special declaration votes).
2.00pm target

Wednesday 26 November Deadline for applications for Judicial Recount

Thursday 27 November Return of Writ by Chief Electoral Officer showing successful electorate candidates*

Friday 28 November Declaration of Election of List Members *

Friday 12 December Deadline for Broadcaster Returns of Election Programmes
to the Electoral Commission.

Friday 3 March 2009 Deadline for Returns of Party Election Expenses to the Electoral Commission*.

Tuesday 10 March 2009 Deadline for Returns of Third Party Election Expenses and Donations to the Electoral Commission.

Tuesday 10 March 2009 Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses and Donations to Chief Electoral Officer.

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

ENDS

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