Electoral Commission Preparing for Christchurch East By-Election
The Electoral Commission is gearing up for a by-election in the Christchurch East electorate on Saturday 30 November 2013.
“This by-election is to select a new local Member of Parliament for the Christchurch East electorate,” says Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden. “In a by-election, people have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no party vote.”
The Electoral Commission expects to provide around 25 polling places across the Christchurch East electorate, which covers the eastern suburbs of Christchurch city from the Avon-Heathcote estuary north to the Waimakariri River.
“It is important to remember that only those who are enrolled in the Christchurch East electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election,” says Mr Peden.
Download the Christchurch East Media Kit below.
Voters who are outside the Christchurch East electorate temporarily (for example, while their house is being repaired) can stay enrolled in Christchurch East and will be eligible to vote in the by-election.
If people know they will not be returning to their previous home and have lived outside the electorate for more than one month, they need to re-enrol at their new address.
“If you’re not sure about which address you should enrol with, please contact us on 0800 36 76 56,” says Mr Peden.
Voting places will only be available inside the electorate on election day. Voters unable to vote at a voting place in the Christchurch East electorate on Saturday 30 November will be able to vote at an advance voting place before election day, and postal voting may be available for those unable to get to a voting place.
Advance voting and voting from overseas will start on Wednesday 13 November 2013.
Information about where and when to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Tuesday 5 November.
“We will be working in the community to ensure voters enrolled in the Christchurch East electorate know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote,” says Mr Peden.
“The by-election will run under the electoral boundaries used in the 2011 general election.”
Enrolling is quick and easy. Freetext your name and address to 3676, go to www.elections.org.nz, visit any PostShop or call 0800 36 76 56. People can also check and update their details at www.elections.org.nz.
More information about enrolling and voting is available from www.elections.org.nz.