Voting done and dusted for students

No single political party floats

Saskia Owens’ boat.

Nevertheless, it is a boat she has cast out early as one of a growing number of New Zealanders voting early.

The Electoral Commission had registered 154,454 advance votes cast by yesterday morning.

That was more than the 94,577 by the comparable day in 2014 and 36,556 by the comparable day in 2011 – the first year advanced voting was available to all.

At Wellington’s Victoria University, queues formed at a makeshift polling booth as the largely young voters went to the ballot box early, many of them for the first time.

Ashley Short, 20, cast her vote on Wednesday, 10 days out from the election ‘‘to get it out of the way and so I don’t forget’’.

‘‘I feel like I did my part for New Zealand, I have done what I can.’’

Owens turned 18 just a week out from the last election, making 2017 her second general election. She had no fears she would change her political affiliations between Wednesday and September 23.

‘‘None of the parties completely resonated with me so I had to go with the one that resonated the most,’’ she said.

‘‘I voted because I had to but I wouldn’t be completely content with any of them.’’

Chelsea Quinn, 19, had to change her details before voting as she had moved from Wellington to Auckland.

‘‘It was really quick. I had a 20-minute break between classes and got to class on time.’’

All advance votes will be stored in sealed boxes and not counted till election day. Advance voters can also enrol, check or update their electoral roll details at the same time.

On election day, September 23, voting will be open from 9am to 7pm. You must be enrolled by September 22.

PHOTOS: KEVIN STENT/STUFF Chelsea Quinn was among the early voters at Victoria University. Saskia Owens voted early but said no political party had truly impressed her. Ashley Short proudly displays the fact she’s had her say in this year’s election. She voted early ‘‘to get it...