Counting down to voting deadline

With a little over a week and a half to go before the election deadline to fill the extraordinary vacancy on the Invercargill City Council, Electoral Officer Graham Low says there has been a dramatic downturn in the number of votes being received on a daily basis.

Mr Low said earlier in the week on average Council was receiving in excess of 1,700 votes per day peaking at 1,981 on Tuesday, but by the middle of this week Council had struggled to achieve over 500 votes.

“So far we have received 10,972 votes which represents a return of 28.5% of total eligible voters.

“At the current rate of return we will be struggling to achieve a 40% return let alone a majority of voters exercising their democratic responsibility on who they want to represent them at the Council table,” Mr Low said.

Voters are reminded that their voting papers must be in the hands of the Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon on Wednesday, August 29.

Returned voting papers should be posted no later than Friday,   August 24 to ensure they are delivered ahead of the deadline; otherwise papers can be dropped off to the Civic Administration Building in Esk Street or to the Bluff Service Centre.

“Although rolls closed on July 10, residents and/or ratepayers who did not receive voting papers, but wish to exercise their democratic right to vote, can cast a special vote by enrolling no later than August 28.”

An election is required to fill an extraordinary vacancy on the Invercargill City Council due to the resignation of Cr Jackie Kruger on June 8, who stood down to relocate to Australia.

Enrolment forms and information are available from the Invercargill City Council.