Voting Period for 2014 General Election Begins Today
The first votes for the 2014 general election will be cast today, Wednesday 3 September, as advance voting begins ahead of election day on Saturday 20 September.
“Election day is September 20, but if you want, you can vote from today,” says Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden. “Almost 300 advance voting places will be available around the country for people to cast early votes.”
Times and opening hours will vary around the country to suit local needs.
“Many advance voting places will have late nights or extended hours in the lead-up to election day,” says Mr Peden. “If you’re unable to get to a voting place on election day, because you’re on holiday, working, in hospital or for reason whatsoever, voting in advance is the easiest way to have your say.”
Most advance voting places are fully accessible or accessible with assistance for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
There will also be special arrangements for some voters including:
- Mobile advance voting facilities in Christchurch
- Electoral Commission teams visiting hospitals, rest homes and remand centres to collect votes
- Special voting services for New Zealanders in Antarctica and Raoul Island
- Dictation voting service for blind and low-vision voters
Voting from overseas also begins today.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for all eligible New Zealanders to vote in this year’s election,” says Mr Peden. “This includes Kiwis around the world, so if you have friends or family overseas, let them know they can vote from now.”
Full information about when, where and how to vote in advance is available at www.elections.org.nz, by calling 0800 36 76 56, or by contacting your local Returning Officer.
Key links:
Candidates, advance voting places and election day voting places by electorate
www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/information-voters-who-when-and-where
Voting from overseas
http://www.elections.org.nz/overseas
ENDS
Photo/filming opportunities in advanced voting and voting places
Please contact us in advance if you want to film or photograph inside a voting place, either during the advance voting period or on election day.
Candidates may only be in a voting place for the purpose of voting.
Media organisations can take photos or film at a voting place as long as:
- The Returning Officer approves. Media must contact the Electoral Commission in advance to arrange this.
- No photographs or footage is taken of voters actually completing their ballot papers or showing how a person voted. Media cannot go behind the voting screens.
- Photographers or camera crews do not disrupt voters from voting, or officials from their duties.
- No undue delays are caused to voters.
- No interviews are conducted in or near the voting place