MEDIA RELEASE

Saturday 8 August 2009

Chief Electoral Office
Ministry of Justice

Delivery Of Referendum Voting Papers Complete

All referendum voting papers have been delivered to voters, with over half a million votes cast so far.

“Every voter who was enrolled by 30 July should have received a referendum voting paper in the mail by today,” says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer. “If anyone hasn’t got their referendum voting paper yet, or they’ve lost it or made a mistake on it they should contact us to be issued with a replacement voting paper.”

Voting in the referendum opened last Friday 31 July.

As at 5pm on Thursday 6 August, 570,300 votes had been received by the Chief Electoral Office’s vote processing centre. Votes will not be counted until after voting closes on 21 August.

“If anyone who enrolled by 30 July has not got their voting paper, they can get a replacement voting paper online at www.elections.org.nz/app/cir-reissue/
or by calling Freephone 0800 36 76 56,” says Mr Peden

Replacement voting papers are usually issued to people who have moved house and not updated their enrolment address details, or the voter has lost their voting paper or made a mistake and it isn’t clear which way they want to vote.

The original voting paper is cancelled.

“We recommend that people have their voting paper in the mail no later than Thursday 20 August to ensure it gets to us in time.

“If you’ve already made up your mind, I would encourage you to post your voting paper back today so you don’t forget or miss the voting deadline,” says Mr Peden.

To count, voting papers from New Zealand must be postmarked no later than Friday 21 August and voting papers from overseas must be postmarked no later than Thursday 20 August (this allows for international time differences to ensure compliance with the close of the voting period).

ENDS

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