Electoral Commission preparing for Mt Albert by-election
The Electoral Commission has begun preparations for a by-election in the Mt Albert electorate on Saturday 25 February.
“Voters in the Mt Albert general electorate will be choosing a new local member of Parliament,” says Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden. “As in any by-election, people have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no party vote.”
An inner-city electorate in urban Auckland, Mt Albert includes the suburbs of Pt. Chevalier, Grey Lynn, Westmere, Owairaka, Mt Albert, and parts of Sandringham and Kingsland.
“If you live in this electorate, make sure that you are enrolled and ready to vote now,” says Mr Peden. “Only those who are enrolled on the general roll in the Mt Albert electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election.”
The Electoral Commission expects to provide around 29 voting places across the electorate.
Overseas voting will start on Wednesday 8 February, and advance voting will start on Monday 13 February. Information about where and when to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Wednesday 1 February.
“Our goal is to make sure that voters in the Mt Albert electorate have the information they need to enrol and vote,” says Mr Peden. “We want people to know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote.”
Enrolling is quick and easy. Go online at www.elections.org.nz, call 0800 36 76 56, pop into a Postshop or text your name and address to 3676. 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.
ENDS
A timeline for the Mt Albert by-election is set out below.
25 FEBRUARY MT ALBERT BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE
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Monday 19 December |
Mt Albert electorate by-election dates formally announced |
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Thursday 5 January |
Regulated period for election expenses starts day after notice of vacancy published. |
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Wednesday 25 January |
Writ Day Governor General issues writ directing the Electoral Commission to hold the Mt Albert by-election. Electoral Rolls close for printing. Voters enrolled after this date cast a special declaration vote. |
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Thursday 26 January |
Nominations open for candidates in the Mt Albert by-election |
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Wednesday 1 February Noon Deadline |
Nominations close for candidates in the Mt Albert by-election |
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Wednesday 1 February 4.00pm target |
Mt Albert by-election candidates announced by the Electoral Commission. Voting place and advance voting place details available. Ballot paper printing starts. |
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Wednesday 8 February |
Overseas voting starts |
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Monday 13 February |
Advance voting starts Easyvote packs start arriving with voters |
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Friday 24 February |
Last day to enrol |
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Friday 24 February |
All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight |
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Saturday 25 February |
Election day for Mt Albert By-election Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm |
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Saturday 25 February |
Preliminary Results progressively available from 7pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz. Targets for release are: by 7.30pm all advance vote results by 9.00pm results from 50% of voting places by 10.00pm results from 100% of voting places. These are targets not guarantees. |
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Wednesday 8 March |
Official Results declared (including special declaration and overseas votes) |
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Monday 13 March |
Deadline for applications for judicial recount |
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Tuesday 14 March |
Return of Writ by Electoral Commission naming successful candidate (presuming no recount) |
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Thursday 8 June |
Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses and Donations to Electoral Commission |