Enrolment push for Kiwi voters

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is urging Kiwis to take action and enrol to vote in the upcoming 2016 local government elections.

LGNZ Chief Executive, Malcolm Alexander, stressed the importance of participating in the selection of those who will make decisions that affect most people’s lives on a daily basis.

“Local government shapes the place that you live. It’s the pavements you walk on, the roads where you drive, the water in your shower, and the parks, libraries and swimming pool where you take the kids,” says Mr Alexander.

“The local government elections are a one-in-three-year opportunity to have your say and be counted.”

“By enrolling to vote you have the chance to choose the people making decisions on everything from roading – that is, potentially how long you spend in traffic in work every morning – to water supplies, infrastructure, garbage collection, and even skate parks,” he said.

“Kiwis are lucky to live in a democracy, with the freedom to choose the people who make the decisions about their local areas,” he said.

The push to enrol follows the launch of LGNZ’s Vote2016 campaign, which aims to lift voter turnout in local elections to more than 50 per cent for the first time since the 1980s.

“Every year, thousands of New Zealanders become eligible to vote, but many of those don’t enrol which adds to the estimated 250,000 who still need to enrol to be able to take part in this year’s local elections,” said Mr Alexander.

“Kiwis need to take action on the issues affecting them directly,” he said.

Options for enrolling to vote were varied, said Mr Alexander, with digital options available to make the process as efficient as possible. Specific enrolment options for Maori, disabled and overseas voters, as well as those wanting to go on the unpublished roll, are also available.

Voters who have not enrolled can still do so, however they will need to request special voting papers as electoral rolls have closed. People can enrol, or check and update their details, at www.elections.org.nz or at any NZ Post Shop.

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