As of close on business on Monday 7th October, only 618 Raglanders had voted in the Waikato District local body elections. This means that a staggering 82% of Raglan ward voters still have to return their voting papers.
Voters need to post their voting papers by Wednesday 9 October, or they can be delivered by hand to a Council Office.
There will be a ballot box available in the Raglan Council Office/ Library at 7 Bow St until noon midday Saturday 12 October where voting papers can be deposited.
Come on people, get those voting papers off the coffee table, tick the boxes and post the papers in.
80% of Waikato district voters still to return voting papers
With less than 20% of Waikato district voters having returned voting papers, people are being urged to have their say on who their community leaders should be for the next three years.
The Waikato district has to date recorded one of the lowest voter return rates in the region with only 18.9% of papers returned as at 7 October. In the 2010 elections the district recorded one of the lowest voting return rates in the country with 34%.
There is considerable variation in voter return rates by ward, with (as at 7 October) Onewhero-Te Akau Ward having 26.1% of votes returned, followed by Huntly with 25.3%. Awaroa ki Tuakau (15.6%) and Tamahere wards (16.3%) are recording the lowest turnout to date.
Voters need to post their voting papers by Wednesday 9 October, or they can be delivered by hand to the following Council offices during office hours this week, or 9am-midday on Election Day, Saturday 12 October:
- Ngaruawahia office
- Raglan office and library
- Huntly office and library
- Te Kauwhata library
- Tuakau office
- Tuakau library
Voters have the opportunity, where an election is being held, to elect their Mayor, Councillors, and Community board members along with Regional Council and District Health Board representatives. To find out about these candidates voters can read the information provided with voting papers, go online at www.vote.co.nz to read candidate bios, or visit www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/Your-Council/Elections.aspx.
Waikato District Council Electoral Officer Maria Edgar says although electoral rolls have now closed, people can still cast a special vote in person at the six Council offices and complete a change of address/new registration form at any Postshop.
“I would encourage anyone who has not yet voted to do so. It’s their opportunity to have a say on how where they live is run over the next three years.”
It’s true that “In the 2010 elections the district recorded one of the lowest voting return rates”. More accurately, it was the lowest.
One of the problems is knowing what the candidates will do. Alan Vink has belatedly said he’s against water meters. Any chance of getting him or Clint to make any more promises?
It was good that Alan came out with a definite policy on water meters. His only other policy was about keeping rates close to inflation. Pretty vague – he didn’t say how close. There is no rule that says rates have to go up each year.
In regard to Clint we know what he will do based on what he has done in the past.
The last few years have seen a mass transfer of rates from rural properties to Waikato towns and Raglan. I’d vote for a candidate who would work to put a stop to this and reverse it. We don’t have a candidate saying they would do that though.
Without any community board vote, most Raglan people think this election is big yawn.
From my point of view we’ve a choice between bad and even worse. I prefer the bad. For example, one of the bad candidates suggested to me yesterday that low turnout means most people are quite happy with things as they are, otherwise they’d be protesting. So anyone who thinks they’re protesting by not voting needs to think again and work out who they’d least prefer to be ruled by.
I am surprised by your comment John.My preferred approach is to’under promise and over deliver’.However if you would like me to make a comment on an issue please don’t hesitate to ask me.Thanks