Final chance for voters to have their say.
Despite a false start, election day is finally here, and people have until 7pm to have their say in what is arguably the most important decision this year – the 2020 General Election and referendums.
Of the 2,567 voting places open today from 9am to 7pm across the country, there are 55 in the Napier electorate, 50 in Tukituki and 228 in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
Chief Electoral Officer Alicia Wright said: “There is plenty of opportunity for anyone who hasn’t voted yet to do so”.
“It’s important that you have your say on who represents you in Parliament for the next three years. Saturday is your final chance to enrol, vote and be heard.”
Advance voting began on October 3 and by the end of Wednesday, more than 1.5 million people had voted. That is well ahead of the 1.2 million who voted in advance in 2017.
“It’s fantastic that so many people have got out early to vote, but there are still a lot who haven’t, and we don’t want them to miss out,” Wright said.
In Napier, 56388 people have enrolled to vote. That is 91.84 per cent of the 61400 estimated eligible population.
49,081 are on the general roll, while 7,307 are on the Māori roll. Ninety-two per cent of the 63400 estimated eligible voting population in Tukituki has enrolled.
Just over 50,000 are on the general roll, while 8,355 are on the Māori roll.
For both the Napier and Tukituki electorates, the number of voters enrolled increases the older they are.
In Tukituki, the age group with the highest amount of people enrolled to vote is between 65-69 with 98.13 per cent.
This is followed by the 60-64 age group with 87.65 per cent. However, it drops slightly to 96.1 per cent for those aged 70 and over.
On the other end of the scale, only 78.85 per cent of 18-24 year olds have enrolled.
For Napier, the highest number of enrolled voters are aged between 60-64 at 97.25 per cent. It drops slightly to 94.92 per cent in the 65-69 age group, before increasing to 95.32 per cent for those over 70 years old.
Only 77.42 per cent of 18-24 year olds are enrolled to vote.
For the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, 37,381 are on the roll. The highest number of voters in this electorate are the 18-24 and 25-29 age groups with 4,887 and 4,207.
This year, for the first time, people can enrol or update their address details on election day before they vote at any voting place.
Wright said voters who have their EasyVote card should take it with them to make voting faster, but people can still vote without one.
The preliminary results of the general election will be released progressively after voting closes at 7pm today (Saturday). Results will be available at www.electionresults.govt.nz
Priority is given to the election results and votes in the two referendums on end of life choice and cannabis will not be counted on election night. Preliminary referendum results will be released on October 30, and the official results of the election and referendums will be released on November 6.
People can check where their closest voting place is online at www.vote.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56.
