YOU NEED TO BE ENROLLED

In case you hadn’t heard, there’s a general election coming up. September 23, to be exact.

And while the build-up to this year’s election has come with its fair share of scandal, it shouldn’t be enough to put you off voting. Here’s why.

Voting in a general election – any election, for that matter – is your democratic right as a New Zealander to have your say on your future. By having your say on what you’d like the next government to look like, you show that you care about the lives of your family, your neighbours on your street, the people who live in your city, and the rest of New Zealand.

It pays to be informed, though. Simply turning up to a polling booth on election day and going ‘‘eenie meenie miney mo’’ isn’t enough to justify the sticker you’ll get when you leave. Here’s what Neighbourly is a NZ-owned social media site creating easy ways for neighbours to talk and connect. Join us at neighbourly.co.nz or download our new iPhone and Android apps.

you need to know before September 23:

In order to vote, you first need to be enrolled – and it’s actually illegal if you don’t. In fact, if you’re eligible to vote and don’t enrol, you could be fined $100, or double that if you’ve been fined before and still haven’t. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has