More than three million voting packs will be delivered to mailboxes throughout New Zealand over the next week as the second New Zealand flag referendum begins today.
Chief electoral officer Robert Peden says the voting packages will be arriving in people's mailboxes between today and Friday, March 11.
People will get their chance to vote for the flag they want to represent the country.
'Your voting pack will include your voting paper, a return freepost envelope and full information on how to complete your paper.
'It will also include information about the two flag options voters will be choosing between.”
The flag that receives the most votes in the second referendum will be the official flag of New Zealand.
The referendum runs from Thursday, March 3, until Thursday, March 24.
Voters will be asked to choose between the current New Zealand flag and the preferred alternative design selected in the first referendum in late 2015.
'On your voting paper, you will be asked to tick the flag option that you want to be New Zealand's flag,” says Robert.
'Make your choice, then get your vote back in the post by March 21.”
Enrolled voters who do not receive their pack by Friday March 11 should visit www.elections.org.nz or freephone 0800 36 76 56 to get a replacement paper.
People can also request a replacement paper if they make a mistake, lose, or destroy their paper.
Once completed, voting papers should be placed in the return envelope, and posted in a New Zealand Post postbox by Monday, March 21, to ensure they get back in time.
21 comments
Exercise your right to vote
Posted on 03-03-2016 11:37 | By Annalist
Many societies and countries don't get the right to choose, the right to vote. Make sure you vote, whatever your choice is. There are even some commenters on Sunlive that don't seem to approve of having a choice.
@ Annalist
Posted on 03-03-2016 13:18 | By Taffy
I agree 100% with your comments.As this is a binding result regardless if only say 30% voted so people if you don,t vote don,t moan about the result.
Voter Fraud
Posted on 03-03-2016 13:33 | By Conzar
How is the NZ government going to prevent mail in voter fraud? IE, how do we have any guarantees that the National Party won't use their money to change the votes as they come through the private postal system?
Actually did not
Posted on 03-03-2016 13:40 | By Merlin
The alternative flag did not actually get the most votes individually so people actually do not get the chance to vote for the one that got the most votes due to the preference of listing them .A straight forward vote should have been done on the one choice.The whole referendum has been a farce and became like a political campaign.
@Conzar
Posted on 03-03-2016 14:42 | By BullShtAlert
As Capt Mainwaring of Dad's Army often said to Lance-Corporal Jones " I think you're wandering into the realms of fantasy."
Democracy
Posted on 03-03-2016 15:31 | By penguin
Yes, we must vote and vote to retain the current flag. Apart from other factors, we will be voting to uphold democratic principles. John Key began to lead us astray by suggesting that patriotism, pride in one's country and a sense of "belonging," arises from a symbol alone i.e. a new flag. He has treated the whole issue in a similar vein to a car sales rep., vacuum cleaner salesperson or weight loss product promoter enthusiastically flogging off a product, complete with supporting testimonies of "famous" and satisfied customers. It has the hallmarks of the car promo on TV showing the young girl imploring dad to 'get lost.' With the flag issue, the one who 'got lost' was John Key.
@Conzar
Posted on 03-03-2016 16:07 | By Taffy
Geez mate what planet are you on.We may moan and groan about this and that but one thing we are not is some sort of corrupt banana republic,to make such a statement as you have defies believe.Think you should put your name forward for the one way trip to Mars.
Insults do not make an argument
Posted on 03-03-2016 17:15 | By Conzar
@Taffy and @BullshtAlert, you have offered nothing but Ad hominem attacks. That is because you are unable to answer my simple question. In a general election, NZ has a very good system for managing the voting. Why is that system not being used for voting for the flag? Why is the private mail system being used instead? What are the guarantees that the private mail system is not corruptible?
Stick to the issue at hand
Posted on 03-03-2016 17:41 | By StevieB
I see it is still the same old folk grizzling here. Now I wonder how many folk will continue their protest by adding their own category in this 2nd referendum ? You know, like adding a box to make a stupid statement, which makes their vote redundant, or just perhaps they will play by the rules this time and make their vote actually count. Let's see if all the name-calling and other childish attitudes can be put aside to have a serious vote. Whichever way it goes, there will still be folk who will complain & then there will be the 'I told you so' brigade. John Key is damned if he does & damned if he doesn't. All he has done is put the question to the people in a proper process. It just goes to show you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
WELL SAID!
Posted on 03-03-2016 18:46 | By Blasta
WELL SAID StevieB! You hit the NAIL ON THE HEAD,
@ Conzar again
Posted on 03-03-2016 19:06 | By BullShtAlert
There is no guarantee that any system is not corruptible. When people go to a polling booth they don't even have to prove their identity. As for ad hominem attacks I suggest you look at the definition. You make an unsupported claim about National somehow possibly using money to change votes through the postal system. Rather ridiculous in a free and open society like NZ. But if conspiracy theories are your thing that's up to you? You need to prove your outrageous theory however.
Hey
Posted on 03-03-2016 20:47 | By Capt_Kaveman
Tomatoes are down to $2.99 a kilo
which way to vote?
Posted on 03-03-2016 23:05 | By Captain Sensible
Vote to keep the current flag or vote for John Key's ego....the choice is yours.
But facts do @conzar
Posted on 03-03-2016 23:34 | By Taffy
In the last general election over 700k votes were received through advanced voting by posting .Approx 25% of the total votes.There have been other referendums on a postal basis only.(Check the Electoral Commission web site)So if you think the system is corrupt you are welcome.
@Conzar
Posted on 04-03-2016 08:31 | By Papamoaner
You haven't done your homework before shooting from the hip. The most disappointing thing for me is the way our KIWI bird icon is completely ignored, so I will be voting for the existing flag
@StevieB
Posted on 04-03-2016 08:50 | By penguin
Your statement;..
Main Game
Posted on 04-03-2016 09:02 | By Gigilo
Apprentice politicians like yourselves should stand for office. In the mean time just vote my new flag in. Thanks in advance for your support.
DON'T WRITE ON YOUR FORM
Posted on 04-03-2016 09:21 | By Colleen Spiro
Some people protested by writing KOF or keep our flag at the first referendum. DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON YOUR VOTING PAPER. DO NOT GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR VOTE INVALID Just TICK the circle of your preference
My vote counts
Posted on 04-03-2016 11:27 | By StevieB
Having already received my paper & voted yesterday, I encourage you all to read the definition of each flag in the accompanying brochure & then ask yourself which one really represents a forward thinking, modern NZ. Neither represent John Key, his ego, a dictatorship, Treason, undemocratic process or any other of the unsavoury terms written about in this forum. Simply take yourself out of the argument and ask yourself which one best represents NZ moving forward, and you will see that the other one best represents NZ looking backwards. I choose to move forwards. Bring on the new flag. It's good to see the grizzle brigade are not so brave this time and don't want to vandalise their vote. Pity.
One person one vote
Posted on 04-03-2016 17:45 | By BullShtAlert
Everyone from politicians to serial moaners is entitled to express their opinion on the flag. In the end everyone gets one vote each. Make sure you vote and stop whining.
Why is this
Posted on 05-03-2016 08:28 | By astex
Why has JK agreed to a "binding" referendum on the flag but will not give us a binding referendum on more important things like euthanasia, smacking etc. He says it is important for the people to decide but obviously this only applies when HE wants it too.
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