Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Slight drop in enrolment for local body elections

Updated at 11:19 am on 26 August 2010

Voter enrolment for the upcoming local body elections has dropped 0.5% on the previous election.

91.3% of those aged over 18 are registered to vote, compared to 91.8% for the 2007 council, district health board and community board elections.

However there are now more people on the electoral register - 2,956,531 - due to the rising population.

Despite that, Local Government New Zealand says the low voter turnout for local elections is concerning.

Turnout has been declining since 1992 and for the 2007 elections was just 44%.

The deadline for enroling to take part in the postal vote has now passed but people can still make a special vote by contacting local returning officers.

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