Younger voters failing to enrol

Young people make up more than 40 per cent of unenrolled voters, new figures show.

Statistics from the electoral enrolment centre show 100,000 - or 41.5 per cent - of 250,000 unenrolled voters across the country are between 18 and 24.

In the Auckland Central electorate, two-thirds in that age group are not enrolled - the highest figure in the country. The figure is better in other Auckland electorates, ranging from 63 per cent in Mt Albert to 86 per cent in Rodney.

The electoral centre's national manager, Murray Wicks, said the figures were of concern, as 18 to 24-year-olds made up a fifth of Auckland Central's potential votes.

The Green Party's youth affairs spokesman, Nandor Tanczos, said the elections needed to be made relevant to young people, who often felt their participation made no difference.

"I think a lot of young people don't see the direct connection between their lives and Parliament. The decision made on election day is going to affect those people enormously.

"If young people want to be represented in the debates that are going to affect them - for example, the raising of the drinking age - they actually need to be participating."

Mr Tanczos, who is standing in the Auckland Central electorate, said young people were also made scapegoats, which was turning some off.

"Politicians are quick to criticise and blame young people. What you don't see is a lot of engagement with young people."

Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard does not believe young people in her electorate are any less interested than their peers elsewhere.

"I've had a few tell me that they intend to focus on their vote when the election is called, because they are concentrating on study, exams or work now."

She believed the phenomenon could also be attributed to the electorate's highly transient population.

Low enrolment among eligible 18 to 24-year-olds is prevalent in electorates in university towns, with Dunedin North and Palmerston North tailing Auckland Central with about 50 per cent enrolment.

Mr Wicks said the young voters in these electorates were more likely to be flatting.

"Updating or enrolling is not top of mind as opposed to ensuring the phone line and power is connected when they're moving house."

He said electoral staff had been campaigning at universities and advertising in student media to encourage enrolment. A text-messaging enrolment drive had also made some inroads. The message was one of making voting relevant.

"One vote can make a difference, but 100,000 can change the direction of the next Government."

Young voting power

* Nationally, 104,191 eligible voters aged 18 to 24 are not enrolled.

* They make up 41.5 per cent of the total of 250,921 non-enrolled eligible voters.

* Nearly 2.74 million people, or 91.61 per cent of eligible voters, have enrolled to vote.