Wednesday 31 August 2005
Chief Electoral Office
Ministry of Justice

Kiwis who are overseas can cast their vote in New Zealand's general election from today, Wednesday 31 August 2005.

"Overseas voters can now download voting papers from the elections website www.elections.org.nz or vote in person at one of 58 overseas posts," says Chief Electoral Officer David Henry.

"While voters can download voting papers from the website, they cannot vote electronically or email their papers back," says Mr Henry. "The best option is to fax the voting papers directly back to the Chief Electoral Office on

There are 39,500 people on the New Zealand electoral roll with an overseas address. In addition many other voters are travelling overseas, and can vote from today.

Fifty eight overseas posts from Argentina to Vietnam will issue votes for the election. In Australia, New Zealanders can vote in person at all State Electoral Commissions, the Australian Electoral Commission in Sydney and the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra.

A list of the overseas posts where votes are being issued is available from www.elections.org.nz . Information for voters who are overseas is also available from the website.

In the 2002 general election 17,760 overseas votes were cast.

ENDS

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