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Not all New Zealanders will have a say on October 17.
While early voting in New Zealand begins on October 3, overseas voting is available from Wednesday, September 30 until 7pm on Saturday, October 17 (New Zealand time).
But Kiwis living abroad who have been out of the country for more than three years cannot vote in elections.
Some say it is unfair when the impact of Covid-19 has interrupted their plans to visit their homeland.
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However, the Electoral Commission says it “has no power to waive that requirement, regardless of individual circumstances or intentions.”
Registered citizens must have visited New Zealand in the last three years or, if they are permanent residents, in the last year.
The law on this is explicit: people must have returned to New Zealand within three years from the date of the elections, that is, after October 17, 2017.
Libby Wilson / Stuff
Many Kiwis abroad who planned to visit the country this year will not be able to vote in the elections.
Hayley, 28, is one of those caught. She left New Zealand in August 2017 and currently lives in Bologna, Italy with her husband.
“I was planning to be in New Zealand in July, and although the trip would have been mainly to visit my family and friends, I also wanted to make sure I kept my right to vote in the upcoming elections and referenda,” said Hayley, who did not want to be he will use his last name.
But then the coronavirus pandemic arrived and those flights were canceled. Any foreseeable travel to New Zealand is also up in the air, especially with the cost involved in quarantine upon entry, he said.
“Coronavirus cases are also increasing in Europe, so I think I better stay in Italy for now.”
He was abroad for the 2017 general elections and voted at the embassy in Paris. If I had the option to vote in this year’s Italian elections, I would “definitely” do it.
“I consider voting to be a responsibility and I keep up to date with New Zealand politics as much as I can to make sure I am informed about what is happening in my home country.
“This year’s referendums are also incredibly important; both will have a huge impact in New Zealand and I would really like to give my opinion on them as I will probably live there again in the future. “
Hayley contacted the Elections Commission and received a letter in response explaining that it is a legal requirement of the 1993 Election Act that a person be disqualified from registering as a voter if they are a New Zealand citizen who has not been to the country within the last three years.
Talking to StuffHe said in normal times, he would understand the need to have a time limit for foreign voters. But these are not normal times.
Many kiwis simply don’t have a choice or don’t feel like it is responsible to visit them at this time, he said. Websites like SafeTravel also advise Kiwis not to travel and those already abroad to stay safe where they are.
Collette Devlin / Things
Many New Zealand kiwis will be lining up at the polls on October 17.
“In my opinion, the three years should be extended to four, just for this election. That way it would cover those of us who wanted to go home but couldn’t because of the pandemic, rather than Kiwis who have lived abroad for much longer. “
Last week, a major referendum was held in Italy that could result in a reduction in the number of members of parliament. Since Hayley is not an EU citizen, she was unable to vote there either.
“While I understand why I cannot vote here yet, I feel that now I have no voice in either my home country or the country where I live,” he said.
Hayley and her husband plan to return to New Zealand permanently in the next few years.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark posted online over the weekend, reminding Kiwis abroad to check their registration status and vote if they are eligible.
Some people in a similar situation to Hayley commented on Clark’s post, saying that they would love to vote but can’t because their trips home this year were canceled due to the pandemic.
Clark’s post also encouraged people to vote in the cannabis referendum. She is a longtime advocate for law change and is the new chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.
The number of votes abroad increased by 53 percent, from 40,132 in 2014 to 61,524 in the 2017 general elections.
According to the Election Commission, the majority of overseas votes in 2017 came from Australia, the UK, China and Germany.
Information for foreign voters:
There are several voting options for Kiwis living abroad who are eligible to vote.
Voting from abroad is available from Wednesday, September 30 until 7pm on Saturday, October 17 (New Zealand time).
The easiest and fastest way to vote from abroad is for people to download and print voting documents for general elections and referenda.
They can be returned online, by fax, or delivered to a local polling place. E-mail votes are not accepted.
There may be some sites abroad where Kiwis can cast their vote in person. These options may depend on the Covid-19 situation in specific areas. You can find more information about voting abroad here.
