Advance voting tops 1m
MORE than one million New Zealanders have already hit the ballot box as early voting numbers continue to soar.
Figures released yesterday show 453,426 people voted at the weekend, taking the national total to 1,153,334.
There was a steady stream of people exercising their democratic right at a polling booth at the University of Otago yesterday.
Hayley Smith (24) was voting in her third election, and said the referendums were a strong driver in getting her to the polling booth.
‘‘It gives us a chance to say which way we want New Zealand to go,’’ she said.
That was different from voting for parties, which came up with their own policies, she said.
Claudia Gale (18) was voting for the first time.
She was not a politics junkie, but thought everybody should get out and vote.
‘‘I felt good that I could finally have a say,’’ she said.
For Genevieve WalkerRadich (21), taking part in her second election meant she was better informed about what she was voting for.
‘‘I feel like as we get older, there’s a bigger push to exercise your democratic rights,’’ she said.
‘‘Growing up and getting into the real world, it’s pretty important to be able to have a say.’’
She also thought the referendums could be having an impact on youth voter turnout, and felt the Electoral Commission had done a good job of informing people about issues and how voting would affect future legislation.
It is still unclear what is driving the early voting trend.
University of Otago political scientist Janine Hayward said advance voting had been getting more popular each election, ‘‘so in one sense, it’s just a continuation of a trend that’s been building’’.
Uncertainty due to Covid19 restrictions and election fatigue could also be playing a part, Prof Hayward said.
‘‘People just want to get it over, because it’s been a pretty longtalkedabout election.
‘‘I think we’re all a bit jaded by it. I’ve never done an advance vote before because I love election day, but I did it this time.’’
There had also been an increase in the number of 18to 24yearolds enrolling to vote this election.
More information was needed to determine what was driving that, but regardless of the reason, it was ‘‘brilliant’’, Prof
Hayward said.
‘‘It is really exciting to know that those registrations, at least, are up.’’