Electoral Commission preparing for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election
The Electoral Commission is preparing to deliver a by-election in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate on Saturday 29 June.
“This by-election is to select a new local Member of Parliament for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti 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 110 polling places across the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, which extends from the top of East Cape across to Waikaremoana, down through Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and most parts of the Hutt Valley.
“It is important to remember that only those who are enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Māori electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election,” 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 Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate on 29 June 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 12 June 2013.
Information about where to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Wednesday 5 June 2013.
“We will be working in the community to ensure voters enrolled in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote,” says Mr Peden.
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.