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There are only a few days until the 2020 election, but have you received your voting package yet?
If not, don’t panic. Here’s what to do if you are in this position and how you can cast your vote.
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Why hasn’t my voting package arrived yet?
There are a few reasons why you may not have received a voting package in your mailbox yet.
The first is that you didn’t register to vote before September 13, which was the deadline to receive one.
The most common reason for not getting one is that you have recently changed your address.
If you move house and do not update your details on the electoral roll, the voting package has likely been delivered to your old property.
The Election Commission encourages people to update their details online at vote.nz using their Real Me verified identity, passport or driver’s license.
You can also fill out a form at any polling place.
Christine Cornege / Stuff
This year people can still vote in elections even if they are not registered on Election Day.
Can I vote without one?
The voting package includes an EasyVote card, which makes voting faster, but you don’t need one to participate.
All you have to do is give your name and address to the issuing officer at your local polling place and he can cast his vote like everyone else.
The voting package also contains information on the location of local polling places, as well as data on candidates who are in the electorate.
But all these details can be accessed on the Election Commission website vote.nz or on the Stuff website.
What if I am not registered to vote?
This will be the first election in New Zealand history where people can register and vote on Election Day on October 17.
So even if you leave it to the last minute, you can still participate.
You just need to fill out a special vote statement, which can be done online at vote.nz.
Alternatively, fill out a form at any polling place and tell the issuing officer that you are casting a special vote.
The same applies to voting in referendums.
One is in the End of Life Choice Act, which is legally binding and would legalize assisted dying for terminally ill patients, under special conditions, if New Zealanders vote in favor.
The other is about the legalization of cannabis, but it would need Parliament to pass a law before it becomes legal.
