Electoral Commission Prepares for Voting in Botany Electorate

The Electoral Commission is preparing to make it easy for voters to take part in the Parliamentary by-election in the Botany electorate on Saturday 5 March.

“The announcement of a by-election on 5 March triggers a chain of activity within the Electoral Commission to ensure a well run by-election in Botany,” says Chief Electoral Officer, Robert Peden.

“Only people enrolled in the Botany electorate are able to vote in the by-election and they have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no Party Vote,” says Mr Peden.

The Electoral Commission expects to provide a similar number and location of polling places for the Botany by-election as was provided in the electorate on election day in 2008.

Voters unable to vote at a polling place in the Botany electorate on election day will be able to vote at an advance voting place before election day. Polling places will only be available inside the electorate on election day.

Advance voting and voting from overseas will start on Wednesday 16 February 2011.

Information about where to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Tuesday 8 February 2011.

“All Botany voters correctly enrolled in time will get an EasyVote card to take when they vote to make voting easier,” says Mr Peden.

”The EasyVote card is an important feature of the Botany by-election, and people are urged to enrol to vote as quickly as possible so they can receive their EasyVote card.”

Enrolment forms are available from the elections website www.elections.org.nz, by free texting your name and address to 3676, from any PostShop or by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56). People can check their details and enrol online at the website.

A timeline for the Botany by-election is set out below. A media kit for the Botany electorate will be available from www.elections.org.nz/study/news/botany-by-election-media-kit

ENDS

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