MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday 2 November 2008

Chief Electoral Office Ministry of Justice

Tens Of Thousands Vote Early In The 2008 General Election

At least 58,000 people have already voted in the 2008 general election, with the number of votes expected to soar by Friday as people who aren't in their electorate on Election Day vote in advance.

Since advance voting started at least 58,660 people have cast their vote - that's an average of about 8,000 advance votes a day so far.

We have five days of advance voting to go. We are urging people who can't get to a polling place in their electorate on Saturday 8 November to vote in their electorate this week, says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer.

Advance voting finishes on Friday. Check your EasyVote information pack or www.elections.org.nz ( http://www.elections.org.nz/ ) for details of where your closest advance voting place is and its opening hours. Some will have a late night this week.

The Chief Electoral Office has teams of people visiting resthomes and hospitals across the country this week to ensure people who can't get to a polling place on Election Day can vote.

Now that the EasyVote cards have all been delivered voters should take their EasyVote card with them when they vote, it will make voting easier,” says Mr Peden.

In 2005, 197,938 people voted in advance. The Thursday and Friday before Election Day in 2005 were the busiest days for advance voting with almost forty percent of advance votes cast on these days.

Information on the number of overseas votes cast will be available after Election Day.

People are also being reminded to enrol now if they haven't. Enrolment closes on Friday 7 November. Getting an enrolment form is easy. Either Freetext your name and address to 3676 or, go online to www.elections.org.nz ( http://www.elections.org.nz/ ), or go to any PostShop, or call Freephone 0800 36 76 56.

ENDS

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