Thousands not yet enrolled

Dunedin registrar of electors Dee Vickers is urging people to enrol to vote in the election....
Dunedin registrar of electors Dee Vickers is urging people to enrol to vote in the election. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Thousands of potential voters in Dunedin are missing and registrar of electors Dee Vickers is concerned they will not have their chance to vote next Saturday if they do not enrol promptly.

There are nearly 10,000 people aged between 18 and 34 in Dunedin who are eligible to vote but are not enrolled.

In Dunedin South, there are more than 3000 voters in the same age group yet to enrol. Dunedin North MP David Clark said the mobile student population had much to do with the so-called missing voters in his electorate.

His understanding was the Electoral Commission looked at the statistics and worked out there were 10,000 fewer people enrolled than should be in Dunedin North. However, that did not automatically mean there were 10,000 fewer voters.

''A large number of students still vote in their home electorate.''

All political parties were keen to enrol people who might support them and Labour was no different, Dr Clark said. His team had been working for three years to ensure every eligible voter in Dunedin North was enrolled.

''I say to students it is important they vote because the decision they make today will affect them longer than anyone else because they have longer to live,'' he said.

Ms Vickers said she did not want votes to be lost.

''We want to encourage everyone who can vote to enrol and vote and make sure their voice is heard. Every vote counts.''

Eligible voters can enrol right up to the day before the election.

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