Let the Voting Begin!

The wait is almost over for Northlanders keen to vote in this year’s local body elections.

From tomorrow (subs: Fri 17 September), tens of thousands of voting papers for the election will be distributed to registered electors throughout Northland.

The papers will include election forms for the Northland Regional Council, the Northland District Health Board and a voter’s local District Council.

A stamped addressed envelope will also be included to ensure votes can be returned by midday on Saturday 09 October 2010. Alternatively, papers can also be dropped into ballot boxes at District Council service centres and public libraries. (Subs: The Northland Regional Council does not have its own ballot boxes.)

Linda Stansfield, the Northland Regional Council’s Electoral Officer, says the Regional, Far North and Whangarei District Councils use the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system, while the Health Board and Kaipara District Council use Single Transferable Voting (STV).

With that in mind, she says it’s important people read their papers carefully before casting their vote to make sure they’re using the right voting method.

“The voting papers contain clear instructions on how to vote using both systems. The FPP voting papers will have a light orange wash screen and the STV voting papers a light grey background screen.”

Mrs Stansfield says with all Northland Regional Council voting papers expected to have been delivered by Friday 24 September, eligible Regional Council voters who have not received their papers by then should contact her on (0800) 002 004.

Twenty-five people are contesting eight available seats on the Northland Regional Council. Four Regional Councillors are required for the Whangarei District Constituency, three from the Far North, and one for the Kaipara Constituency.

ENDS

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