Apathy gets the votes so far

The number of eligible voters in the Auckland Central electorate has surged by nearly 20,000 but fewer than 1000 new voters have signed up, with an election no more than 13 weeks away.

The electorate's enrolment rate of 63.7 per cent is the worst in the country, well behind Dunedin North (79.5 per cent) and Wellington Central (82.5 per cent).

While apartment living has contributed largely to the 40 per cent growth in the eligible voting population, only 760 more residents have enrolled to vote since 2002's polling day.

If an election were held tomorrow, 24,000 people would be ineligible.

The Electoral Enrolment Centre said the problem was compounded by Auckland Central's high proportion of 18- to 29-year-olds, who comprise more than a third of the electorate.

When the preliminary rolls closed for printing, nearly 60 per cent or 13,900 in that age group had not enrolled.

The enrolment centre's national manager, Murray Wicks, said the electorate's population surge meant its boundaries would probably be redrawn.

It has 67,300 eligible voters, compared to the 54,288 quota set for a North Island electorate.

The boundaries will be reviewed next year after the census.

The electorate's sitting MP, Judith Tizard, said the figures were only estimates and did not factor in the number of overseas students and apartment owners who did not use their city property as a primary residence.

* To enrol, phone 0800 36 76 56, freetext your name and address to 3676, drop in to any PostShop or visit www.elections.org.nz for an enrolment form.