Younger voters in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa are swarming on to the electoral rolls heading towards the General Election on September 23.
Electoral Commission figures to the end of July showed more than 76 per cent of the estimated number of the eligible population aged 18-24 years had enrolled. Nationally about 63.6 per cent of eligible voters in the age group had enrolled.
Read more: Editorial: Hear from the candidates at our election meetings
Fight for Napier seat in Parliament starting to heat up
In the Hastings-based Tukituki electorate, about 76.2 per cent in the age group were enrolled and in Napier about 71.6 per cent had enrolled. In the Wairarapa electorate, which includes Central Hawke's Bay, the proportion of younger voters enrolled was among the highest in New Zealand at 82 per cent.
But the figures showed about 4000 people in the first or second time voting bracket in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa are still being chased to get their names on electoral rolls, among about 450,000 New Zealanders of all ages still not the rolls.
The Electoral Commission is making a big push to get younger voters on the rolls by next Wednesday, the deadline for the printed rolls, but makes the point anyone aged 18 by or on polling day a month later is eligible to be on the roll.
Chief electoral officer Alicia Wright said an Easy Vote Pack to be sent to all registered voters will be particularly important for those voting for the first time, listing candidates and parties, and place where people can vote, such as council facilities and schools.
Anyone who enrols after August 23 will have to cast a special declaration vote and Ms Wright said: "A special vote takes a bit longer and means filling in an extra form. That's why we encourage people to get enrolled now. We want to make voting as easy as possible for everyone."
Voters can free text their name and address to 3676, get a form from a PostShop or call Freephone 0800 367 656. People can also enrol or update their details online at www.elections.org.nz."
More information about enrolling and voting is available from www.elections.org.nz.