Roll call campaign to rally the voters

A new advertising campaign asks voters to make sure they are on the electoral roll so they can vote in the general election this year.

The general election enrolment update campaign, run by New Zealand Post for the Justice Minister, begins with update packs being sent to all registered electors.

The NZ Post Electoral Enrolment Centre national manager, Murray Wicks, said this election would be the first under a new continuous enrolment system.

Under the system, registered electors do not have to re-enrol before an election, but should participate in "update exercises" instead.

Each registered elector will be sent a pack with their current enrolment details.

Electors need to reply only if their details are wrong.

If packs are returned because the address has changed, the elector's details will be deleted from the roll.

The preliminary roll deadline is June 21. An information number, 0800 36 76 56, has been set up and details can be checked, or registrations made, on-line at the elections website.

New Zealanders or permanent residents who have lived here for more than a year at some point, and are aged 18 or older can vote.

Other restrictions are listed on the enrolment form.

Mr Wicks said that just over 2.6 million or 94 per cent of those eligible to vote were enrolled.

This figure was likely to drop once the campaign began and packs were returned "address unknown".

At the same time before the last election, in 1999, 92 per cent were enrolled.

Advertisements featuring an "orange animated character" will be broadcast on television and radio and will feature in newspapers and posters.

- NZPA

Elections NZ