More Kiwis registered to vote

STUFF.CO.NZ: The rate of online enrolments by Kiwis living abroad more then trebled last week, according to data from the Electoral Enrolment Centre.

The Centre's figures show that between Monday and Thursday of last week, 2400 overseas-based New Zealanders went to the official Government web page to check their electoral status - more than triple that of the previous week.

The results coincide with last week's launch of the 'Every Vote Counts' Campaign by independent, non-profit organisation Kea New Zealand.

The 337 percent increase was made by New Zealanders who live overseas enrolling online, either to vote for the first time or make sure their details were correct.

In the 2005 General Election, only 28,000 New Zealanders living abroad voted - despite an estimated 500,000 being eligible to do so.

Kea New Zealand Chief Executive Ivan Moss said the early results were encouraging and showed Kiwis living overseas were enthusiastic about voting once they found out how simple the process was.

"It's incredibly easy for New Zealanders overseas to enrol to vote, and to download voting papers online. You don't have to go to an embassy or consulate to vote."

New Zealand citizens are eligible to vote if they have visited the country within the last three years.