Filipino Migrant News September 2017

02 SEPTEMBER 2017. ISSUE 106 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | tel: 027 495 8477 | www.pinoynzlife.nz
Voting starts in the General Election
Voting has started in the
2017 General Election and
Sheila Mariano from Henderson
is looking forward to
having her say.
“It’s the right thing to do,”
she says. “As migrants we
should be involved in the
elections, so that our interests
are protected.”
Anyone who is ready to
vote can cast an advance
vote between 11 and 22
September at one of 480
advance voting places right
around New Zealand. Voters
can also enrol, check or
update their enrolment
details at an advance voting
place.
The last day for voting is
election day on Saturday 23
September. This is traditionally
the day most people
vote on. Approximately
2,400 voting places will be
open on election day in locations
where people work and
live, for example, schools,
shopping malls and community
halls.
“If you don’t vote then
you can’t complain when the
country is governed in a certain
way,” says Sheila
Mariano. “We need to vote
for candidates whose policies
resonate with our
ideals.”
The Electoral Commission’s
Chief Electoral
Officer, Alicia Wright, says
that there is a list of voting
place locations and opening
hours at www.elections.org.
nz so voters can plan where
and when to vote.
“My suggestion is to make
going to vote a family occasion,”
says Alicia Wright.
“Make sure your friends and
family can get to a voting
place and take your children
with you so they see what
voting is like.
“We want everyone who is
eligible to vote in this election
to vote, so they can have
their say on the decisions
Sheila Mariano from
Henderson is looking
forward to having
her say. “It’s the
right thing to do.”
“As migrants we
should be involved in
the elections, so that
our interests are
protected.”
made in Parliament,” says
Alicia Wright.
People can enrol to vote
right up until Friday 22
September, but they cannot
enrol on election day itself.
“One of the easiest ways
to enrol at this stage is to do
it on the spot at an advance
voting place,” says Alicia
Wright. “You can also download
an enrolment form from
www.elections.org.nz, fill it
in and upload it to the website,
or pick up a form from a
PostShop and get it back to
us as quickly as you can.”
To be eligible to enrol and
vote a person must be 18
years old or older, a New
Zealand citizen or permanent
resident and have lived
in New Zealand continuously
for one year or more at
some time in their life.
Aly Ty from Albany has
been in New Zealand for 17
years and will definitely be
voting this year. “I do it to be
involved in the community
and to make a difference,”
says Aly Ty.
Voters already on the electoral
roll should receive an
EasyVote pack in the mail
before the election with all
the information they need in
order to vote. It will include
lists of parties and candidates,
locations of voting
places and an EasyVote card
which makes voting quicker.
When voters go into a voting
place they should give
their EasyVote card to the
issuing officer to help find
their name on the electoral
roll. They will be asked to
confirm their name before
being given a ballot paper.
If people don’t have an
EasyVote card, they can still
vote and will just need to tell
the person their
Aly Ty from Albany
has been in New
Zealand for 17 years
and will definitely be
voting this year.
“I do it to be
involved in the
community and to
make a difference,”
says Aly Ty.
full name and address. No
identification is needed
when people go to vote.
Once voters have been
given their ballot paper they
can go behind a private voting
screen and mark their
ballot paper.
“There will be a list of
political parties on one side
of the ballot paper and on the
other side a list of people
standing for election as the
local Member of Parliament,”
says Alicia Wright.
“Place a tick by the name
of the political party of your
choice and a tick by the
name of the candidate you
would most like to represent
your local area. These are
your party and electorate
votes.
“Afterwards, put your voting
paper in the ballot box –
it’s that easy.”
The votes will be counted
once voting closes at 7pm on
23 September and the preliminary
election results will
be released. The votes are
counted again over a twoweek
period before the official
results are declared.
Under the New Zealand
voting system MMP coalitions
are often needed to
form a government and
negotiations will take place
after the election between
the parties that make it into
Parliament.
More information on voting
under MMP can be
found at www.elections.org.
nz in many languages.
“Remember, it only takes
most people five minutes to
cast their vote,” says Alicia
Wright. “Your vote is important,
so make sure you take
the time to have your say
this election.”
Brought to you by the
Electoral Commission.
“Remember, it only takes
most people five minutes to
cast their vote,” says Alicia
Wright.
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