Last chance to vote in local body elections
Time is running out for thousands of Hawke's Bay residents yet to complete and return their voting papers for the local elections.
Voting in this year’s Local Body Election closes at midday tomorrow.
In Napier, a drive-thru voting booth will be open from 8.30am-12pm tomorrow at the Napier City Council Customer Services Centre, 215 Hastings Street.
More than ten thousand who can, have done so already.
Richard Munneke, Napier City Council Acting Chief Executive, says voting is a right but also a responsibility.
“There are lots of ways our community can be involved with the work we do, first and foremost is to have their say by voting for who they want to represent them,” says Richard. “It’s important people vote because their elected representatives will be their voice at the decision-making table for the next three years.”
For Central Hawke's Bay, only people who live in the Ruataniwha Ward can vote.
Residents can still drop their papers into the bright orange ballot bins at Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Waipawa Library, Waipawa Four Square, Te Huinga Wai - The Knowledge & Learning Hub and New World Waipukurau before 12pm tomorrow.
In Wairoa, the last few days have seen a jump in the number of people casting their votes.
While on Monday, only 26.1 per cent had voted, as of this afternoon, 43.6 per cent of eligible voters had returned their voting papers.
That represents 2,425 of the 5563 electors. A total of 49.1 per cent (1575 electors) have voted in the General Ward and 36.0 per cent (850 electors) in the Māori Ward.
Wairoa’s voting returns are slightly up for this election compared to the last election with 42.9 per cent of returns recorded for the same period in 2019.
However, in 2016, 54.5 per cent had voted by this time.
Voting papers can be returned via the secure voting box at Wairoa District Council from 9am to noon tomorrow morning.
Anyone who would like to vote but hasn’t received their voting papers should call into the Wairoa District Council office on Queen Street or contact the electoral officer, Juanita Savage, by phoning 06 838 7309, so a special vote can be arranged.
