Radical Initiative to get Young People Voting

An exciting new cross-party youth initiative is being launched today to get more young people voting on Election Day. Youth wings of six political parties are behind the campaign as well as the New Zealand Universities' Students Association.

The project aims to generate over 500 parties and events around the country on election day.

"If young people are doing something to celebrate election day they are more likely to get to the polling boots to vote," says Mikey Havoc, Spokesperson for the 'Great New Zealand Vote Party' and well known media personality.

Younger voters, between 18 and 29 years, are being encouraged to celebrate election day by having a party or event during polling hours (9am to 7pm).

There are nearly 195,000 New Zealanders who are able to vote for the first time in this election. We want to reposition election day as something exciting and something that should be celebrated with friends.

"We have a low voter turnout for young people and we have to do something radical to get younger people more engaged in voting," says Mikey Havoc.

"Nearly 200,000 people have probably never even been in a polling booth. On election day younger people just sleep in and get distracted. Celebrating the day and going with your mates to the polling booths just makes it easier."

To encourage people to take part, anyone hosting an event can enter the 'Great NZ Vote Party' competition by simply registering your Election Day event at www.voteparty.co.nz. The winner will get to celebrate Election Day in style with Mikey Havoc to DJ at their party.

The initiative has also been sponsored by Alt TV, the b.net network of radio stations, Phantom Billstickers and the Electoral Commission, which has generated a $50,000 advertising campaign for the 4 weeks leading up to Election Day. The partner organisations are Young Greens, Young National, Young Labour, Campus Act, Young Progressives, Young United Future and NZUSA.