Enrolment drive starts despite poor awareness it is election year
A major enrolment drive for this year’s election kicks off Monday 5 May - at a time when research shows many people don’t even know its election year.
The Electoral Enrolment Centre has started the countdown to the Parliamentary election by posting enrolment update packs to everyone who is currently enrolled to check that their details are right.
“Our enrolment drive is a key step to getting New Zealanders ready for the election. But we are doing it at a time when research tells us there are low levels of awareness that it is election year amongst Pacific, Maori, Asian and young people,” says Murray Wicks, National Manager, Electoral Enrolment Centre.
“The research shows over half of Pacific and young people, and just under half of Māori and Asian people don’t know its election year.”
A Research New Zealand study prepared for the Electoral Enrolment Centre shows
55 percent of Pacific people, 53 percent of young people, 45 percent of Asian people and 41 per cent of Māori don’t know its election year.
“We need to get as many people as possible ready for the election by ensuring they are correctly enrolled to vote,” says Mr Wicks. “Not knowing it is election year is a hurdle for us and our enrolment drive.
“Our enrolment campaign reaches out to all people eligible to vote. This is their chance to get enrolled correctly now and be ready to vote when the election is announced.”
Currently an estimated 237,000 people are not enrolled. 2.862 million people or 92.35 percent of the estimated eligible population are enrolled.
“The major enrolment campaign starting now aims to ensure all those enrolled are enrolled correctly. It is also targeted at those who aren’t enrolled and those who have been removed from the roll because they have shifted house and not updated their details” says Mr Wicks.
People who have not received their enrolment update pack by Thursday 8 May will need to enrol. They can enrol or update their details here. Enrolment forms are also available by freetexting your name and address to 36 76, calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56) or at any PostShop.