A healthy democracy depends on people taking part. It is in everyone’s interests that we all vote. Chief Electoral Officer
Coastlands or Electoral Headquarters
By Roger Childs
Advance voting in the past was largely done by people knowing they would be out of their electorate on polling day. This all changed in 2o11.
Anyone can vote ahead of time and save the hassles of finding a handy park and standing in a long queue on September 23.
In the Kapiti area, you have a choice of either
~ Coastlands Centre Court in Paraparaumu.
~ Electoral Headquarters 37 Te Roto Drive, Paraparaumu.
Advance voting started on Monday and plenty of people have already combined their shopping business with casting an early vote. Across the nation just under 40,00o cast their ballot on Monday.
Voting in local electorates
Voters can cast a ballot at either of the two advance polling places for any of the three local electorates
- Mana
- Otaki
- Te Tai Hauauru.
If you are on the electoral roll, the issuing of an ordinary ballot paper is a quick process.
For the Maori roll the entire Kapiti area is incorporated in Te Tai Hauaunui (The Western side.)
Special votes for any electorate and takeaway ballots
Advance voting also caters for anyone from any electorate in New Zealand. This requires a special vote and the issuing process takes a little longer.
The voter needs to fill out a declaration with their basic details and this declaration plus their ballot paper is later mailed to the home electorate.
The Advance Voting Place Manager can also issue takeaway votes. These can be provided for anyone who is unable to get to a polling place either before or on election day. The person can nominate someone to pick up their voting paper. This is another form of special vote.
Advance voting is easy and convenient
So if you want to avoid the big voting surge on Saturday 23 September, you can do your voting ahead of time at your leisure.
The Advance Voting Place at Coastlands is in the Centre Court.
The hours for the next two weeks are
Wednesday September 13: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm- Thursday September 14: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
- Friday September 15: 10,00 am to 4,00 pm
- Saturday September 16: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Sunday September 17: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Monday September 18 – Wednesday September 20: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Thursday September 21: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm
- Friday September 22: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
The Advance Voting Place at Electoral Headquarters is at 37 Te Roto Drive.
The hours for the next two weeks are
- Wednesday September 13 – Friday September 15: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
- Monday September 18 – Tuesday September 19: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
- Wednesday September 20: 00 am to 4.00 pm
- Thursday September 21 – Friday September 22: 9.00 am to 4.30 pm
All people who are enrolled will receive EasyVote cards by Thursday 14 September.
Take the card along when you want to vote and the process will be even quicker.
However you do not need an EasyVote card to do your voting.
An efficient way to cast your ballot
Advance voting is available for anyone who wants to do it, whether they live in the local electorate or are from out of town.
It saves the bother of getting to a polling place on election day: Saturday 23 September.
So if you live in the Kapiti area and are going to Coastlands to shop, or are in the Te Roto Drive area, why not cast a vote at the same time?