Beat the rush and vote early

Labour Party candidate Hamish McDouall was making use of the advance voting facility which opened for business in Wanganui yesterday. Photo/Bevan Conley

Voters were quick off the mark in Wanganui yesterday, day two of advanced voting in this year's general election.

And among the early bird voters casting their ballot was Whanganui electorate Labour candidate Hamish McDouall.

It was the first time Mr McDouall had voted early.

"I did it really to advertise voting is open and it's much easier to do it now rather than later," he said.

"I think the Electoral Commission's done a great thing to expand the facilities to vote early and we're certainly encouraging people to make use of it.

"We want to perfect a democracy, and the way to do that is make sure people vote," Mr McDouall said.

A spokesperson at the election headquarters at 6 Bates St, said there had been a constant stream of people coming in to vote early.

There will be two advance voting booths operating in the city prior to election day (September 20) - at 6 Bates St and the All Saints' Church hall, 70 Moana St in Wanganui East.

The Bates St site will be open from 10am-4pm today, from 10am-2pm tomorrow, then again from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday next week. On Saturday, September 13 it will open from 9am-3pm. On September 15-16 it is manned from 10am-4pm, from 10am-8pm on September 17, 9am-5pm on September 18 and from 9am-6pm on September 19.

Advanced votes can be lodged at All Saints hall from 10am-4pm, September 15-16, from 10am-5pm on September 17-18 and from 9am-5pm on September 19.

Neither booth will be open on election day itself, with other voting places available around the city and across the electorate between 9am-7pm that day.