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 here 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 here, 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 here.
A timeline for the Botany by-election is set out below.
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5 MARCH 2011 BOTANY PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE
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Tuesday
14 December 2010
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By-election date announced
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Friday
17 December 2010
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Lists of people enrolled in the Botany electorate as at 14 December produced and made available for public inspection
Enrolment drive for Botany by-election underway
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Tuesday
1 February 2011
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Writ Day
Governor General issues direction to the Electoral Commission to conduct a by-election in Botany
Last day for enrolment before Electoral Rolls close for printing
Voters enrolled after this date cast a special declaration vote
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Wednesday
2 February 2011
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Nominations open for candidates in the Botany by-election
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Tuesday
8 February 2011
Noon Deadline
4.00pm Target
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Nominations close for candidates in the Botany by-election
Botany by-election candidates announced by the Electoral Commission
Information on where to vote available from www.elections.org.nz
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Wednesday
16 February 2011
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Advance Voting starts in the Botany electorate and at Registrars of Electors Offices around the country
Overseas Voting starts
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Saturday
26 February 2011
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EasyVote information packs available for those enrolled in the Botany electorate
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Friday
4 March 2011
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Enrolments close
All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight
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Saturday
5 March 2011
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Botany By-election held
Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm.
Polling places will be located in the Botany electorate
Preliminary Results progressively available from 7.00pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz. Targets for release are:
- by 7.30pm all advance vote results
- by 9.00pm results from 50% of polling places
- by 10.00pm results from 100% of polling places.
These are targets not guarantees.
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Wednesday
16 March 2011
Noon Target
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Official Results declared (including special declaration and overseas votes)
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Monday
21 March 2011
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Deadline for applications for judicial recount
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Wednesday
23 March 2011
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Last day for Return of Writ. The Electoral Commission expects to return the writ naming the successful candidate on Tuesday 22 March (presuming no recount).
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