Tauranga EasyVote deadline is today

Today is the last day voters can enrol to receive a voter's pack with information about where to vote, candidates, political party lists and how to vote in advance.

Every registered voter was sent an enrolment update form in June, including 48,842 in the Tauranga electorate and 48,453 to registered voters in the Bay of Plenty electorate. Tauranga Electoral Office registrar Lesley Christophers said anyone enrolled after August 20 would have to cast a special declaration vote. "So at this late stage the best way for people to make sure they are enrolled is to pop into a Postshop now and fill out the enrolment form, or go online to do so," she said.

Ms Christophers said people can still enrol to vote right up until the day before election day on September 20, but they would not get an EasyVote card and will have to complete a special declaration form. "This can take five times as long as the ordinary easy vote, and means filling in extra forms."

As at August 17, 97.5 per cent of the 50,250 estimated eligible have enrolled in Tauranga - but both the 18-24 and 25-29 years age groups are lagging behind at 83.9 per cent and 86.36 per cent respectively. Overall 96.23 per cent of the estimated 50,770 eligible voters in the Bay of Plenty electorate had enrolled but only 83.91 per cent of those aged 18-24 years and 86.36 per cent of voters in the 25-29 years age group have enrolled.

Important election dates
August 21 - Individual electorate candidates nominations open
August 25 - Deadline for bulk nominations of electorate candidates
August 26 - Deadline for political parties to submit list candidates
September 3 - Advance and overseas voting starts
September 19 - Advance voting ends

Final day to enrol for the election.
September 20 - Election Day Polling places open from 9 am to 7pm.
October 4 - Official results for general election declared
(including special declaration votes)