Friday, November 7, 2008

How to Vote

Photo / Michael Bradley

Information on how to vote in the November 8 election, from Elections New Zealand - elections.org.nz

WHO CAN VOTE?

Anyone who is enrolled by Friday 7 November can vote in the general election.

If you are enrolled by Wednesday 8 October you will receive an EasyVote information pack from the Chief Electoral Office.

It contains all the information you need, including an EasyVote card or letter to take to the polling place to make voting easier.

WHEN?

You can vote at a polling place between 9.00am and 7.00pm on election day, Saturday 8 November.

If you are not going to be in your electorate on election day you can vote in advance from Wednesday 22 October.

WHERE?

Vote at one of the polling places in your electorate on election day.

A list of polling places and advance voting places in each electorate will be available on elections.org.nz from Thursday 16 October and in the EasyVote pack.

If you are overseas during the voting period, you can cast an overseas vote.

If there are other reasons why you can't get to a polling place on election day, you may be able to cast a special declaration vote.

HOW?

On election day, go to a polling place in your electorate.

If you have received an EasyVote card or a letter from the Chief Electoral Officer, take this with you. You can vote without an EasyVote card or letter, but it will take longer.

When you go vote, give your EasyVote card or letter to the issuing officer. If you don't have an EasyVote card or letter, you will need to tell the issuing officer your full name and address.

The issuing officer will give you your ballot paper.

Take your ballot paper to a private booth.

On your ballot paper, place a tick by the name of the political party of your choice and a tick by the name of the candidate you would most like to represent your electorate.

You can view a sample ballot paper.

Further information
Source: Elections NZ

POLL: Fairfax Nielson Poll: 7 November 2008

The Fairfax Nielson Poll for 7 November 2008 puts National well into the lead with a similar margin to last months poll.


Today's Fairfax-Nielsen poll shows National has opened up an 18-point lead - 49 per cent support compared with Labour's 31 per cent - and a last-minute surge in support for ACT would put John Key in a position to pick his new Cabinet.

Labour leader Helen Clark has thumbed her nose at the poll findings - but two other polls last night also show National in a position to govern.

Miss Clark, who is hitting the shopping malls and factory floors in a frantic last-minute push to shore up the key South Auckland vote, issued yesterday her plea to voters: "I'm saying this is one for the true believers. If people want a Labour-led government, they'll get out and vote for it." more


The Colmar Brunton and TNS TV3 polls out yesterday gave the Nats a 12 and 13 point lead so voters should probably see those two polls as more accurate.

As I remarked in a poll yesterday though this doesn't take into effect the feeling for a change sweeping across the nation.






Thursday, November 6, 2008

POLL: TV3 TNS Poll 6 November 2008

The latest TV3 TNS poll for November 6 2008 shows a collapse of Labour support, from over 37% in the last TNS poll to 33% in today's poll.


National is up almost one percent to 46.

Labour's vote collapses to just over 33. It is being punished for president Mike Williams’ failed trip to Melbourne to dig up dirt on John Key.

The Greens are coasting at 9 percent - the highest ever result in a 3 News poll.

New Zealand First is on 3.4 percent – and facing oblivion on Saturday.

ACT has received a last minute boost - 2.8 - that would see Roger Douglas in parliament.

The Maori Party is on 2.7 – and is expected to win at least four seats - most likely five.

Jim Anderton's Progressives and United Future's Peter Dunne are off the pace - but will win their seats.

In parliament, 62 seats are needed to govern - National has 59, ACT four, and Peter Dunne one - that's 64 and John Key is running the country.

Across in opposition, Labour has just 42 seats, the Greens 12, Jim Anderton one - add in the Maori Party -  and even then they fail to govern, with 59 seats. More

Today's TV One Colmar Brunton poll has a similar lead to National-just differing by 1 point- but with slightly different figures.

TV3 has been the odd one out in polls wildly swinging so its similarity with the Colmar poll confirms the trend of a healthy lead for National.

There will be 3 more polls out tomorrow. Fairfax Nielson, NZ Herald Digipoll and Roy Morgan.

c Political Animal 2008




POLL: TV One Colmar Brunton Poll, 6 November 2008

The latest Colmar Brunton TV One poll for November 6 2008 still has National significantly ahead of Labour-the same margin as the previous Colmar Brunton poll


On the all important party vote, National is steady on 47%. Labour is holding firm too, but is 12 points behind on 35%.

The Greens have continued their strong run, up one point to 9% while Act has also had a late burst, now up to 2.5%.

New Zealand First looks dead in the water at 2.4%, and the party vote for the Maori Party has fallen away to 1.3%.

With a 122 seat parliament, (needing 62 seats to get a majority), who could form a government on these latest poll results?

Labour would have 43 seats, the Greens are on Labour's side with 12, the Progressives have one seat, but even if you add in the Maori Party's probable four seats, Clark can only muster 60 seats - two seats short of the majority which is required to govern. More

To me this poll is conservative in its lead for National as it doesn't take the "mood of the nation" into account. That mood is for change and it is apparent everywhere you go.

The accuracy of the Colmar poll is confirmed by the TV3 TNS poll out today.

John Key would have to be found sleeping with his sister to lose on November 8.


Colmar Brunton Polls