Definitely. If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say - and if you don’t have a say, your voice is ignored.

A few votes can make all the difference in New Zealand elections, particularly for Parliament.

First up, there’s no one right way to make up your mind and there’s no such thing as the wrong choice – because it’s your choice!

Pick the best party or person to look after your interests or the issues that matter most to you as you see them. 

Policies, personalities, philosophy, past record, future promises, gut instinct or looking at the facts - you decide what's important to your decision, you don't have to consider them all.

You post in your vote for the local council and district health board elections this year. The next local elections will be held on Saturday 9 October 2010.

For local council elections, your voting papers, instructions and candidate info is posted out with a freepost envelope, so you just mail it back at no cost.

You only get your voting papers in the mail if you're enrolled.

It’s so simple. Just head down to a polling place in your area between 9am and 7pm on election day.

Why not head down with family or pop in with mates and do it together? (Just keep your 'campaigning' to them to before election day!) 

Polling booths are usually set up in your local school, community centre or library. Just check out your EasyVote pack that will arrive in the post about a week beore election day for the nearest place, or the polling places for your electorate will be listed on Elections NZ.