4000 out-of-towners could vote in local election

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

More than 94 percent of Gisborne residents are enrolled to vote in the local body elections this year, but 4000 out-of-towners could swell the district’s voter base by as much as 11 percent.

Gisborne District Council internal partnerships director James Baty said people who lived in one area and paid rates in another might qualify to vote in both areas in local authority elections on October 12.

“The Ratepayer Electoral Roll is an electoral roll that records voters who pay rates on a property in a territorial authority (city or district council) outside of the area they usually live to vote as a non-resident ratepayer elector in that district — for example, if you have a beach house, holiday home, business or whanau land in Gisborne but normally live in Wellington.”

Mr Baty pointed out that although people from other areas could enrol on the Ratepayer Electoral Roll, it was not compulsory.

“If you think you might be eligible for the Ratepayer Electoral Roll, you will need to get an enrolment form for ratepayer electors from the council where you pay your rates.

“For example, if you live in Gisborne and own a holiday home in Napier, you will need to contact the Napier City Council for an enrolment form.

“The council estimates it has approximately 4000 non-resident ratepayer electors who might be eligible to enrol on its Ratepayer Electoral Roll. Currently, there are only 25 enrolments.”

Gisborne Ratepayer Electoral Roll enrolments forms are available via the council website www.gdc.govt.nz

“To receive voting papers before the election, you must register for the Ratepayer Electoral Roll before August 12.”

Meanwhile, Gisborne residents are mostly already enrolled on either the general or Maori roll.

Latest data from the Electoral Commission shows an estimated 2064 people here are yet to enrol — 94.14 percent of Gisborne’s estimated 35,220 eligible voters are already registered, compared with 89.69 percent nationally.

A full 100 percent of Gisborne residents aged 30 to 34 and those aged 35 to 39 are enrolled. However, younger voters (aged 18 to 24) have the lowest uptake, with just 79 percent enrolled to vote.

Nominations for the election open on July 19 and close on August 16.