New Zealand General Election: 8 November 2008
Thanks to the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for the following information.
Q&A on Voting from Overseas
If you will be outside New Zealand at the time of the general election you can vote by casting a special declaration vote.
Candidates – who’s standing?
You can view details of who’s standing in which electorates here.
Who can vote from overseas?
You can vote if you are enrolled and (a) you are a New Zealand citizen and have visited New Zealand within the last three years, or (b) you are a permanent resident of New Zealand and have visited New Zealand in the last 12 months. You can enrol or update your enrolment details online.
How do I vote?
Overseas voting opens on Wednesday 22 October 2008.
Voting papers are not automatically sent to voters who are overseas. You cannot vote by email nor return your voting papers electronically. If you are overseas at the time of this year's general election then there are four options open to you. You can:
1. Cast an advance vote
If you will be in New Zealand from Wednesday 22 October 2008, you can cast an advance vote at any advance voting place.
2. Download voting papers
If you are overseas and enrolled you will be able to download your voting papers from Wednesday 22 October 2008. This is the quickest and easiest way to obtain your ballot paper. Please note this option is not available for people on the unpublished electoral roll.
3. Apply for a postal vote
You can apply to have voting papers posted to you. These are normally sent from New Zealand approximately three weeks before election day.
4. Vote in person
You will be able to vote in person at a number of overseas posts including New Zealand diplomatic posts:
New Zealand Consulate-General
6501 Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Phone: (+852) 2525 5044
Fax: (+852) 2845 2915
Email: nzcghkg@biznetvigator.com
Website: www.nzembassy.com/hongkong
Eligible voters may visit the New Zealand Consulate General in Hong Kong during office hours between 22 October and 4:00pm on 7 November 2008.
How can I check my enrolment details or enrol?
You can enrol or check and update your details online.
You can also:
(a) pick up an enrolment form from any New Zealand diplomatic post, or (b) ask a friend or family member to complete an enrolment form for you. If you would like a friend or family member in New Zealand to complete an enrolment form for you then they will need to be a registered elector and will need to print "Elector overseas - signed by their direction" on the form next to their signature.
If you would like the form completed by someone who holds a Power of Attorney for you then they must print "Elector overseas - Power of Attorney" next to their signature.
How can I find out more?
For questions about voting from overseas email: overseas@elections.org.nz.
For questions about enrolling email: enrol@elections.org.nz.
From within New Zealand call: 0800 36 76 56
From overseas call: +64 4 913 1346.
Languages
Election information in Traditional Chinese is available here.
Election information in Simplified Chinese is available here.