Central Otago voters are advised to start checking their letterboxes this week, with ballot papers for the 2025 local government elections being delivered from today until September 22.

This year voters will again be choosing representatives for both Central Otago District Council and Otago Regional Council - but there will be a change in how they do it.

While the district council election will continue under the traditional first past the post system, the regional council election will be conducted under single transferable vote (STV) – a change voted in by councillors last year. 

Under STV, voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than ticking just one name.

The contests are shaping up to be lively. In the Dunstan constituency of the regional council, four seats are up for grabs – one more than last election, after the area gained a seat at the expense of Dunedin. 

Seven candidates are standing, three of them under the Vision Otago ticket.

At district council level, competition is even more intense. A total of 58 nominations were received, with 54 candidates confirmed across the mayoralty, council, and four community boards. That’s almost double the 29 nominations received in 2022.

A series of ‘Meet the Candidates’ events are still to be held across the district in the coming weeks, giving residents the chance to quiz those standing before casting their votes.

When it comes to returning voting papers, there are several options. 

Soon to be ‘rolling out’ - orange wheelie bins at council service centres, libraries and some supermarkets for vote collection. Image: CODC

Secure ballot bins will be placed at council service centres, libraries, and selected supermarkets across the district. 

CODC governance support officer Sarah Reynolds told The Central App the council would be “rolling out” orange voting bins to New World and Fresh Choice in Cromwell, New World and Woolworths in Alexandra, Four Square in Ranfurly, and Fresh Choice in Roxburgh.

Votes can also be returned by post, but voters need to post them no later than October 7 to ensure they arrive in time. After this date, all votes must go into the ballot boxes.

Voting closes at midday on October 11. 

Progress results will be released later that day, with official results declared in the days following. 

Dates for the diary:

• Now until September 22 - voting papers delivered to mailboxes
• October 7 - last day to post votes
• October 8-11 - votes must go into ballot bins (libraries, service centres, selected supermarkets)
• October 11, midday - voting closes
• October 11, evening - progress results released
• Following days - official results declared
• October–November - new council and community boards sworn in

Voters can also keep an eye on The Central App in the lead-up to election day. We’ve sent every candidate a series of four questions, and their responses will be published in a weekly Q&A series over the next month.

The questions cover:

• How candidates have stood up for their community before
• What skills and experience they bring to the decision-making table
• How they would balance the books and which services they see as essential (or open to cutbacks)
• Why they are standing this election and what’s motivating them now

The series will run right up until voting closes, giving residents another tool to help make an informed choice.

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