Some 141,904 voting papers are being sent to all enrolled voters in Wellington City between today(Friday 16 September) and Wednesday 21 September.
Wellington City Electoral Officer Warwick Lampp urges all Wellingtonians to vote early. “This is your chance to influence the direction of the city over the next three years. Local elections are extremely important because councils have a huge role to play in our lives.”
Warwick urges voters to find out all they can about candidates before voting. “Candidate information is included with the voting papers. You can also find out more about candidates or by attending a ‘meet the candidates’ meeting in your community or by looking at their own social media pages.”
Wellington City Council is one of eight local authorities that use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for electing their mayor and councillors.
Under STV, voters rank their preferred candidates by placing a ‘1’ in the box next to the candidate they most prefer, a ‘2’ beside the candidate they next prefer, and so on. You can rank as many or as few candidates as you like – you don’t have to rank them all. A detailed explanation of how STV works can be found on at stv.govt.nz website.
Wellingtonians will also be asked to vote for candidates for the Capital Coast District Health Board, Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Wellington Ward. Voters in the city’s rural west will also be asked to vote for members of the Makara-Ohariu Community Board.
Voters have until noon on Saturday 8 October to return their papers. Voters need to return the completed voting papers in the Freepost return envelope provided – either by post, or to a ballot box.
“Ballot boxes will be in city libraries and at the Council offices from today. Just make sure they reach my office in plenty of time before voting closes on 8 October,” says Warwick.
If you’re voting by post, the last day for posting your papers is Wednesday 5 October. And if you’re heading out of town during the school holidays, remember to vote before you go or take the papers with you for posting.
If you haven’t received voting papers by Thursday 22 September, you will have to cast a special vote in the elections. If your voting papers are damaged or spoiled, or your name was added to the electoral roll after 12 August, a special vote will be needed.
To apply for a special vote, phone 04 499 4444 or call into the elections office at 101 Wakefield Street.
There are no elections for Tawa Community Board because nominated candidates have been elected unopposed.
For more information visit our elections section.