Check your enrolment now if you want to vote in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election - that's the message from the Electoral Commission in the lead-up to the June 29 by-election.
"You can only vote in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election if you are eligible and correctly enrolled," said Sue Braybrook, Registrar of Electorsfor the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate.
"This includes those living in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate who are already on the Maori electoral roll, those who enrol for the first time onto the Maori roll, and those who use their Maori Electoral Option choice to change from the General to the Maori roll."
To be eligible to enrol in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate you must be 18 or over, be of New Zealand Maori descent; and a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months at some time, and have been living in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate for one month or more.
"The Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election will be taking place during the 2013 Maori Electoral Option, so it is important that Maori understand what their choice means," said Sue Braybrook.
"You can make your choice only once during the Option period, and that decision will be binding for all general elections and by-elections until the next Option which is scheduled for 2018. It is an important decision, and shouldn't be made lightly."
Enrolling or updating your details is quick and easy. Enrolment forms are available from the elections website www.elections.org.nz, by Freetexting your name and address to 3676, from any PostShop or by calling Freephone 0800 36 76 56. People can update their details by filling in an enrolment form or going online to www.elections.org.nz.
