Voting in this year’s local elections closes at midday on Saturday, October 11, so people who haven’t yet got their ballot paper in may want to hustle.
Voters in east Auckland will this year get to vote for the candidates they want to represent them on the two Howick ward seats on Auckland Council’s governing body, as well as the 11 seats on the Howick Local Board.
The local board will have three elected members each for the subdivisions of Howick and Pakuranga, two for Botany, and three for the new subdivision of Flat Bush.
Auckland Council says as soon as the clock strikes 12pm this Saturday, vote boxes across the city will be sealed shut, with each one holding the final voices of Aucklanders who made their choice in the nick of time.
These last-minute ballots will be whisked away to the vote processing centre, where votes are carefully counted, and the race to shape Auckland’s future will be on.
“By Saturday afternoon, Aucklanders will have voted to decide who will lead our city for the next three years,” council general manager governance and engagement Lou-Ann Ballantyne says.
“Thank you in advance to everyone – candidates and voters who participated. We’re eager to meet and work with our newly elected members.
“This election is all about the future of Auckland. From transport and plans to climate action and community services, the people elected in a few days will shape the region’s direction for years to come.”
Progress results in the local elections will be available online at www.voteauckland.co.nz just after 3pm on October 11.
Shortly after voting closes, Aucklanders will get their first look at who’s ahead.
The progress results will reveal vote counts for mayoral, councillor, and local board candidates based on ballots returned from September 9 to October 10.
This early count is expected to reflect 80-90 per cent of all votes.
The council says some candidates may be neck-and-neck, with only a handful of votes separating them, and for those standing in multiple races, early leads could shift dramatically once the final count is in.
Preliminary results are available from Monday, October 13. They’ll include votes cast on Saturday morning and bring the total count to around 95-98 per cent, but with special votes still outstanding, even frontrunners aren’t certain.
In tight races, margins may shift, and a candidate leading one day could be overtaken the next.
Official results in the local elections will be publicly announced on Friday, October 17.
The final count includes every verified vote, including special votes. The official results will confirm Auckland’s new mayor, ward councillors and local board members.
From Saturday, October 18, the newly elected representatives officially take office.
- Check out www.times.co.nz on Saturday afternoon for live results and reporting on the local elections.
