MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 6 November 2008 Chief Electoral Office Ministry of Justice

Three Tips For Making Voting Easier On Saturday 8 November

The Chief Electoral Office is giving voters three tips to make voting easier on Election Day, Saturday 8 November.

Take your EasyVote card with you when you vote. It will make voting easier. If you can, vote at a polling place listed in your EasyVote information pack. Go with a friend or family member if that would help.

"On Saturday 8 November close to three million people get their chance to vote at around 2,700 polling places across the country," says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer. "We do everything we can to make the process easy and accessible."

New Zealanders can vote in any polling place in the country - but voting in their electorate on Election Day is the easiest way to vote.

"Vote close to home at a polling place listed in your EasyVote pack. This will avoid you having to cast a special declaration vote, which can take five times longer.

"Take your EasyVote card with you if you have one. All you need to do is hand it over when you get to the polling place, and you will get your ballot paper in return," says Mr Peden.

People can still vote without their EasyVote card, but it will take longer.

Polling places are open from 9.00am until 7.00pm. The busiest times are usually between 9.00am and 11.00am. Polling places close at 7.00pm sharp.

"Polling places have been located at convenient places in each community to help make voting accessible," says Mr Peden.

"People are welcome to go with friends and family when they vote. Sometimes this can be helpful for voters who have English as a second language.

"If you've got children take them with you so they get to see what happens on Election Day," says Mr Peden.

The largest polling place - expected to have the most voters - is the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. The northern most polling place is Te Hapua School in Te Hapua. The southern most polling place is Halfmoon Bay School on Stewart Island.

"If you can't get to a polling place on Election Day because you are sick or have a disability contact your local Returning Officer. They may be able to help arrange to get your ballot paper to you," says Mr Peden.

More information about where and where to vote is available from www.elections.org.nz.

On election night the results will be available from www.electionresults.govt.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media