Rangatahi urge young people to enrol as 166,000 remain off roll

More than 166,000 New Zealanders aged 18 to 24 were not enrolled to vote ahead of the general election, RNZ reported. With less than a week until enrolment closes, rangatahi, young people, are urging their peers to enrol and have their say.

Around 200 young people attended a youth-led election debate at Auckland's Q Theatre on Tuesday night. The debate was organised by Make It 16, Gen-Z Aotearoa, Tomorrow Together, Social Change Collective, On A Roll and other youth organisations.

Climate change, education and the cost of living were among the major issues discussed. Make It 16 national secretary Malak Tamimi, 17, told RNZ that young people not enrolling was not because they did not care but because they did not feel listened to. Make It 16 national director Jamim Fountain, 17, said the debate put attention on young people too young to cast a ballot and the need to vote with them in mind.

Make It 16 continues to campaign for the voting age in New Zealand to be lowered to 16. Tomorrow Together lead Nate Wilbourne, 18, who is also Future Generations lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, was among those involved in the youth event.

Enrolment for the general election closes at midnight on Sunday, 25 October, according to the Electoral Commission. Voters must be enrolled by midnight 13 days before election day to take part. Election day is 7 November, and advance voting, when people can vote before election day, starts on 26 October.

Voters will not be able to enrol at a voting place for this election. The deadline for voters enrolling from overseas is midnight New Zealand time on 25 October, and people who enrol or update their details after 4 October will not appear on the printed roll used in their electorate.