MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Chief Electoral Office
Ministry of Justice

Governor-General Gives Formal Go-Ahead For Election Candidate Nominations To Open Tomorrow

The Governor-General Hon Anand Satyanand has given the green light for this year's general election to be held on Saturday 8 November, clearing the way for candidate nominations to open tomorrow 9 October 2008.

The Governor-General has signed the writ directing the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct a general election on 8 November 2008. This is the formal authority to run the 2008 election.

"The issuing of the writ, or writ day, is a key constitutional step in the election process. The writ sets out the date nominations for candidates close, election day and the date the writ must be returned showing the successful electorate candidates," says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer.

Under the Electoral Act the Governor-General must issue the writ within seven days of the dissolution of Parliament.

The Chief Electoral Officer must return the writ with the names of the successful electorate candidates to the Clerk of the House of Representatives within 50 days of its issue, on 27 November, if no application for a recount is received.

Candidate nominations close at:
• noon on Monday 13 October for bulk nominations by registered political parties direct to the Chief Electoral Officer.

• noon on Tuesday 14 October for individual nominations to the Returning Officer for the electorate

These deadlines cannot be extended.

A full list of parties and candidates is expected to be publicly available from www.elections.org.nz by 2pm, Wednesday 15 October 2008.

ENDS

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