EasyVote Cards/ Ballot Paper elections.org.nz : Electoral Commission New Zealand

Organization : Electoral Commission
Facility : EasyVote Cards/ Ballot Paper
Country : New Zealand

EasyVote Cards/ Ballot Paper : http://www.elections.org.nz/voters/voting-election/easyvote-cards-make-it-easy
Website : http://www.elections.org.nz/

EasyVote Cards Make it Easy :
The EasyVote card is designed to make voting easier. It shows where your name is on the printed electoral roll and makes it quicker and easier for voting place staff to issue ballot papers.

Your EasyVote information pack from the Electoral Commission contains essential information to make voting easier on the day. The pack includes your EasyVote card, a list of advance voting places, voting places, electorate candidates, party lists and a reminder of how to vote under MMP.

You’ll only get an EasyVote pack if you’re fully enrolled about a month before election day. Why wait? Enrol, Check or Update Now!

Take your EasyVote card or letter with you when you vote – it will make voting easier.

You can vote without your EasyVote card but it will take longer.

You can make voting even easier by voting at a voting place close to home. A list of the voting places in your electorate will be in your EasyVote pack. Voting places are usually busiest between 9am and 11am on election day.

Take your card with you when you go to vote. Once you get to an advance voting place or a voting place, hand your EasyVote card to the issuing officer.

The EasyVote card is not an ID card, and you can still vote without the card, but the voting process may take longer.

The numbers on the card are the page and line number of the electoral roll where your name is. They are there to help the electoral staff find your name on the roll quickly.

After the election, all EasyVote cards are securely disposed of.

Completed ballot papers are kept separate from used EasyVote cards, and the cards are destroyed after the election. The information on the card is designed to make it quicker and easier for voting place staff to issue you with your ballot paper. It is not used for any other reason.

If you do not enrol to vote by writ day you may receive a letter from the Electoral Commission with your EasyVote information pack instead of an Easyvote card. The letter advises that you will need to cast a special declaration vote as your name does not appear on the printed electoral roll.

When You Can’t Get There on the Day :
Sometimes it’s hard to get to a voting place on Election Day, but you can still have your say.

Voting in advance :
Advance voting makes it easy for anyone who can’t get to a voting place in their electorate on election day. This may be because of work, sickness, infirmity, disability, being away from home or for any other reason.

Information about where, when and how to vote in advance is available closer to election day for any by-election or general election. Information on voting in advance will also be in your EasyVote information pack, which you will receive about a week before election day, or on freephone 0800 36 76 56.

If you’re unable to vote in advance, you can cast a special vote.

Casting a Special Vote :
You will need to cast a special vote if you are :
** unable to get to a voting place or advance voting place in your electorate; or
** not enrolled by Writ Day or
** on the unpublished roll.

To receive special voting papers, you will need to complete a special declaration form.

Before election day you can :
** go into an advance voting place. You will be given a declaration form to complete and your voting papers; or
** complete and post an application for special declaration voting papers to your Returning Officer. They will send your voting papers and declaration; or
** apply for voting papers by fax, e-mail or telephone from your Returning Officer.

Your completed voting papers must be received by the Returning Officer or a voting place no later than 7pm on election day.

On election day you can go into a voting place. You will be given a declaration form to complete and your voting papers.

Need help to get your special voting papers? :
You can complete the application for special declaration voting papers and ask another person to take it to your Returning Officer, advance voting place or a voting place. They will then bring you back your voting papers and declaration.

Your completed voting papers must be received by the Returning Officer or a voting place no later than 7pm on election day.

Need help to vote? :
Someone may need help to vote if they :
** are blind or vision impaired, or
** have severe difficulties reading or writing,
** or have difficulty with the English language

If you need help to read or mark your voting papers, a friend, family member or electoral officials can help. Just ask when you go to vote or freephone 0800 36 76 56 to find out more.

Anyone who doesn’t speak English can take a friend or family member to the advance voting or voting place to help.

If you are working on election day :
You are legally entitled to have time away from work to go and vote on election day.

Section 162 of the Electoral Act 1993 sets out the responsibilities of employers in respect of allowing any employees working on election day time off to vote.

General Employees :
Any employee who has not had a reasonable opportunity to vote on election day before starting work, must be allowed to leave her or his work for the purpose of voting no later than 3pm for the remainder of the day. An employer cannot make deductions from the employee’s remuneration for the time taken off.

Employees Carrying Out Any Essential Work or Service :
Any employee who is required to work after 3pm for the purpose of carrying on any essential work or service must be allowed to leave her or his work for a reasonable time earlier in the day for the purpose of voting. An employer cannot make deductions from the employee’s remuneration in respect of the time taken off, provided it does not exceed 2 hours.

Crew of Ships :
A master of a ship in port in New Zealand shall, at their request, allow any crew members who are registered or qualified electors of the electoral district the ship is located within, to go ashore to vote.

There are various offences set out in section 162 relating to employers who do not comply with their responsibilities. The maximum fine is $1,000

Using the Ballot Paper :
When you use the ballot paper, you need to make two ticks.

Your party vote is for the party you prefer. Vote for only ONE party. Sample ballot paper

You vote by putting your tick in the circle AFTER the name of the party you choose.

Your electorate vote is for the candidate you would like to be your Member of Parliament.

Vote for only ONE candidate. You vote by putting your tick in the circle BEFORE the name of the candidate you choose.

If you only complete the party vote, or only complete the candidate vote, it will still count.

If you make a mistake when voting then return your spoiled paper to the issuing officer for a replacement.