Early voting proves popular

"Everybody is getting quite rarked up about it too." Student Kate Brokenshire on the election

The Electoral Commission is expecting a steady stream of people to cast early votes in this year’s election.

Chief electoral officer Alicia Wright said election officials expected a surge in people taking advantage of advance voting this year.

Yesterday, 485 advance voting stations around the country opened for business, up from 295 in 2014. Palmerston North has five locations, including Te Manawa and Massey University, one more than last election.

‘‘There has been a big increase in advance voting over the past two elections, so this election we are providing even more voting places.’’

Kate Brokenshire, 18, wore her politics on her sleeve, with a ‘‘We can do this’’ Labour shirt, as she came into the Massey University advance voting site yesterday. She didn’t think there was any point waiting if you already knew who you were voting for. ‘‘It’s good to just get in first. It’s a lot easier and you don’t have to wait in line.’’

Brokenshire said she was excited to play a part in deciding the Government for the first time. She said the campus was buzzing with political discussions, arguments and jokes.

Since Massey has lots of students studying agriculture, there are a lot of National supporters mixing with the arts and humanities students, who tend to be left-leaning. ‘‘Everybody is getting quite rarked up about it too and with Labour up in the polls there’s been a good bit of banter.’’

Mahen Habib said advance voting was a great way to make sure everybody could have a say, even if they couldn’t make it on the day. ‘‘I run a doctors practice [and] I travel a lot, so I don’t know for sure if I will be here on election day.’’

In 2011, 15 per cent of people cast early votes. In 2014, 30 per cent of people did and officials are expecting even greater numbers this time.