Young voters targeted by general election enrolment team

First-time voter Danielle Halliday (left) tells Melody Hicks, the local Registrar of Electors, "I'll be voting" during a campaign to enrol young voters in Whangarei.

Young Northland voters are being targeted in a campaign to get them to enrol to vote in September's general election, with youth enrolments in the region well below average.

The next election is being held on September 23, but with young voters traditionally not enrolling in great numbers, the Electoral Commission is working to increase that number and encourage younger voters to take part in the election.

In the Northland electorate 91.82 per cent of potential voters are enrolled, but only 70.76 per cent of those aged 18-24 in the electorate are enrolled. In the Whangarei electorate 88.29 of all potential voters are enrolled, but 63.81 per cent of those aged 18-24 are enrolled.

An enrolment team was in Whangarei's Cameron St Mall during Youth Week helping young people get enrolled and ready to vote.

"We want our young people to know that every vote counts," Melody Hicks, Northland's Registrar of Electors, said.

"Your vote is worth exactly the same as anyone else's, no matter how old you are. You can make your voice heard on the issues that matter to you by voting, but, first, you have to be enrolled to vote."

The team has also been visiting local high schools and attending a lot of community events to spread the word on enrolment and voting, but Youth Week was an ideal time to really focus on getting our young people to fill in an enrolment form, Ms Hicks said.

To be able to enrol, you must be 18 or over, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in New Zealand continuously for one year or more at some time of your life.

If you're 17 years old, you can provisionally enrol by filling in an enrolment form. When you turn 18 you'll be automatically enrolled and you'll be ready to vote.

"If you're not old enough this time round, we can still give you some information on when to enrol and how to [ cast your] vote," says Melody Hicks.

To find out more go to www.elections.org.nz