Voting has begun for advanced voters

ONE NEWS: The first votes in the 2008 general election have been cast.

Advance votes can be cast by voters who are unable to get to a polling place in their electorate on election day.

More than 250 advance voting places have been available for people who can't get to a polling booth in their electorate on November 8.

Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden says among other places, voting facilities have been set up on the Chatham Islands.

He says ballot papers will also be sent by fishing boats to Pitt Island and Stephens Island.

Oil rig workers based off the Taranaki coast will also be voting before they head off for their fortnightly shift.

Peden says at the last election 200,000 people voted in advance, which was almost 50% more than voted ahead of time in 2002.

He said staff would also visit hospitals and rest homes to ensure people who couldn't get to a polling place had the opportunity to vote.

Advanced voting opens at 9am Wednesday morning, and closes on Friday, November 7 at 6pm.

Details of advance voting places are available from the elections website or by calling 0800 367656.