Registrar of electors Dee Vickers is constantly amazed by the lack of awareness many people have of local government and its importance to their lives.
"Local councils affect every aspect of our lives - if we drive a car, ride a bike, drink water, own a dog, or want our rubbish collected, local government is involved,'' she said.
"I go out and speak to groups in the community about the importance of taking part in elections - it's no good complaining about things if you haven't gotten involved,'' she said.
The Electoral Commission sent enrolment details to all registered electors on June 27, and most people would have received them within a week.
The message was, "if you had not received your pack, you were not enrolled'', Mrs Vickers said.
"Basically, if you have changed your address, you are not enrolled.''
Deputy registrar of electors Dave Morris was working through forms that were returned Gone No Address (GNA) in the hopes of contacting those people and getting them on the roll. So far 1302 forms had been returned GNA.
New enrolments were coming in more slowly than in other election years, mainly because many people made sure they were on the roll for the two national flag referendums, held in November and March, Mrs Vickers said.
At present, 80.22% of eligible voters are enrolled in the Dunedin North electorate, and 96.8% are enrolled in Dunedin South.
"Catching up with the student population is often a challenge for us so, from this week, we will have a field worker stationed on campus to get students signed up,'' she said.
People unsure about their electoral enrolment status should drop in at the new Electoral Commission office at 44 Filleul St (opposite Wall Street mall).
The Registrar of Electors was transferred to the Electoral Commission from NZ Post on July 1, hence the relocation of the physical office from Strathallan St to Filleul St.
"We are very happy to see people here at the office,'' Mrs Vickers said. "We are now very handily placed and we are always ready to help.''
