WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Voting in the 2017 New Zealand general election will kick off next week when advance voting places open and will go through until election day on Sept. 23, the Electoral Commission said here Friday.
The first EasyVote packs will start arriving in voters' letter boxes from Friday, with 3.16 million to be delivered over the next week, said a statement of the Electoral Commission.
EasyVote packs are being sent to all voters who were enrolled before Aug. 23 and include a personalized EasyVote card which makes voting quicker, it said.
There are 485 advance voting places around the country, up from 295 in 2014, and opening hours vary between voting places to suit local needs, according to the Electoral Commission.
"There has been a big increase in advance voting over the past two elections, so this election, we are providing even more voting places in convenient locations where people can cast an early vote," said Alicia Wright, chief electoral officer.
"People will also be able to enroll, check or update their enrolment details at any advance voting place, so they'll be able to enroll and vote at the same time," Wright said.
"Advance voting places are located where people live, work, study and shop, including universities and shopping malls, and many of them are open after hours and at weekends," she said, adding that most advance voting places are fully accessible or accessible with assistance for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
There are also special arrangements in place for some voters including mobile advance voting services in some rural areas; Electoral Commission teams visiting hospitals, rest homes and remand centers to collect votes; and dictation voting service for blind and low-vision voters, according to Wright.
