Preparations begin for Tauranga by-election
The Electoral Commission is preparing for a by-election in the Tauranga electorate on Saturday 18 June.
‘Voters in Tauranga will be choosing a new local Member of Parliament,’ says Graeme Astle, National Manager of Voting Services. ‘If you live in the Tauranga electorate, make sure you are enrolled and ready to vote.’
The Tauranga electorate includes Tauranga city and Mount Maunganui and extends southwest to Tauriko.
‘Only those who are enrolled in the Tauranga general electorate are eligible to vote in the by-election.
‘As in any by-election, people have one vote for their electorate MP. There is no party vote,’ says Graeme Astle.
Overseas voting will start on Wednesday 1 June and advance voting will start on Saturday 4 June. Information about where and when to vote will be available at vote.nz from Tuesday 17 May.
The Electoral Commission expects to provide up to 15 voting places during advance voting, and up to 30 voting places on election day.
People can check if they are enrolled at vote.nz. They can enrol or update their details online using their New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe verified identity. Or they can call 0800 36 76 56 and ask for an enrolment form to be sent to them.
A timetable for the Tauranga by-election is set out below.
| TAURANGA BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE | |
| Wednesday 6 April | Tauranga electorate by-election dates formally announced |
| Tuesday 10 May | Regulated period for election expenses starts day after notice of vacancy published |
| Wednesday 11 May | Writ Day Governor General issues writ directing the Electoral Commission to hold the Tauranga by-election Electoral Rolls close for printing Voters enrolled after this date cast a special declaration vote |
| Tuesday 17 May, noon | Nominations close for candidates in the Tauranga by-election |
| Tuesday 17 May, 4pm target | Tauranga by-election candidates announced by the Electoral Commission Voting place and advance voting place details available at vote.nz Ballot paper printing starts |
| Wednesday 1 June | Overseas voting starts |
| Saturday 4 June | Advance voting starts EasyVote packs will be sent out before voting starts |
| Friday 17 June | All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight Last day for overseas voters to enrol |
| Saturday 18 June | Election day for Tauranga By-election Last day for voters in New Zealand to enrol Voting places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm |
| Preliminary Results progressively available from 7pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz Targets for release are: by 9.00pm: results from 50% of voting places by 10.30pm: results from 95% of voting places These are targets not guarantees |
|
| Friday 1 July, 2pm target | Official Results declared (including special declaration and overseas votes) |
| Wednesday 6 July | Deadline for applications for judicial recount |
| Thursday 7 July | Return of Writ by Electoral Commission naming successful candidate (presuming no recount) |
| Monday 26 September | Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses and Donations to Electoral Commission |