MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Electoral Commission
Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri

Electoral Commission Preparing for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti By-Election

The Electoral Commission is preparing to deliver a by-election in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate on Saturday 29 June.

“This by-election is to select a new local Member of Parliament for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate,” says Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden. “In a by-election, people have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no party vote.”

The Electoral Commission expects to provide around 110 polling places across the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, which extends from the top of East Cape across to Waikaremoana, down through Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and most parts of the Hutt Valley.

“It is important to remember that only those who are enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Māori electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election,” says Mr Peden.

Voting places will only be available inside the electorate on election day. Voters unable to vote at a voting place in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate on 29 June will be able to vote at an advance voting place before election day, and postal voting may be available for those unable to get to a voting place.

Advance voting and voting from overseas will start on Wednesday 12 June 2013.

Information about where to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Wednesday 5 June 2013.

“We will be working in the community to ensure voters enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote,” says Mr Peden.

Enrolling is quick and easy. Freetext your name and address to 3676, go to www.elections.org.nz, visit any PostShop or call 0800 36 76 56. People can also check and update their details at www.elections.org.nz.

More information about enrolling and voting is available from www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

A timeline for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election is set out below.

For further information please contact Anastasia (Stasi) Turnbull, Manager Communications and Education Ph 027 474 3997

29 JUNE IKAROA-RĀWHITI BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE

Wednesday 8 May Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate by-election date announced

Wednesday 29 May Writ Day
Governor General issues direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election.
Electoral Rolls closed for printing.
Voters enrolled after this date cast a special declaration vote.

Thursday 30 May Nominations open for candidates in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election

Wednesday 5 June Nominations close for candidates in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-
Noon Deadline election

Wednesday 5 June Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election candidates announced by the Electoral Commission 4.00pm target
Voting Place and Advance Voting Place details available at www.elections.org.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56
Ballot Paper printing starts.

Wednesday 12 June Advance Voting starts

Wednesday 12 June Overseas voting starts

Saturday 22 June Delivery of EasyVote packs to those enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate

Friday 28 June Enrolments close

Friday 28 June All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight

Saturday 29 June Ikaroa-Rāwhiti By-election held

Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm

Saturday 29 June Preliminary Results progressively available from 7pm
on www.electionresults.govt.nz. Targets for release are:
- by 7.30pm all advance vote results
- by 9.00pm results from 50% of voting places
- by 10.00pm results from 100% of voting places.
These are targets not guarantees.

Wednesday 10 July Official Results declared (including special declaration and
noon target overseas votes)

Monday 15 July Deadline for applications for judicial recount.

Thursday 18 July Last day for Return of Writ by Electoral Commission naming successful candidate (presuming no recount)

Friday 4 October Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses and Donations to Electoral Commission

ENDS

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