Voting in the local government elections has got off to a slow start across Central Otago with around a quarter fewer votes returned compared to the same period of the previous election in 2019.

The 1,381 papers returned since voting opened three days ago represent less than half the number returned at the same time during the election before that, held in 2016.

Data from electionz.com, which runs the elections nationwide, shows 773 people returned their voting papers on Thursday after a very slow Wednesday return of only 133. 

Having no headline-grabbing competition for the ‘top job’ of the mayoralty in Central Otago, may be one reason interest is a little slow, observers say. Tim Cadogan was automatically  re-elected for a third term after no one else stood for the position.  

Only eight percent of eligible voters or ‘electors’ had returned their papers as of yesterday (Friday September 23).

There are 6,564 electors in the Cromwell Ward who are tasked with choosing four candidates from six standing for election to the Central Otago District Council. Candidates are Neil Gillespie, Sarah Browne, David George, Nigel McKinlay, Shane Norton and Cheryl Laws.

Automatically elected to the four community board seats in Cromwell are Anna Harrison, Bob Scott, Mary McConnell and Sarah Browne.

In the Vincent Ward 7,998 electors have the job of choosing from eight candidates for five council-seat vacancies. These candidates are Roger Browne, Lynley Claridge, Jayden Cromb, Tamah Alley, Martin McPherson, Maurice Vaughan and Tracy Paterson.

Five candidates are standing for the Vincent Community Board’s four seats - Roger Browne, Lynley Claridge and newcomers Dai Johns, Tony Hammington and Jayden Cromb

In the Maniototo where there are 1,379 electors, Stu Duncan is automatically elected onto council being the only candidate. In the Teviot Valley – the smallest at 1,288 electors - Sally Feinerman and Mason Robinson will compete for the one council seat allocated for this area.

Automatically elected onto the four seats for the Maniototo Community Board are Mark Harris, Duncan Helm, Rob Hazlett and newcomer Rebecca McAuley while in Teviot there will be an election from five candidates for that board’s four seats. They are Gill Booth, Norman Dalley, Mark Jessop, Maree Ramsay and Russell Read.

Following the election some of the successful councillors are appointed onto the community boards – three each from Cromwell and Vincent Wards and one from the Teviot Ward(Stu Duncan will represent Maniototo).

Book Store offers carrot to voters

Meanwhile in Cromwell, local bookstore owner Amy Paardekooper says she is very keen for people to not only tick the boxes but actually post their ballot papers.

Her store is offering people who upload to social media a selfie of themselves posting their voting papers, entry into a draw for a $100 gift voucher.

“I myself have been guilty of ticking the votes, putting it in the envelope and leaving it on my bench and I know lots of other people have said similar things so I thought let’s actually make our votes count and try [to] encourage people to actually post their votes away.”

She said it was “awesome” that Cromwell voters had people to choose from to represent them on council.

“I just think it’s really important that we all have our say.”

Postal votes need to be sent by October 4 to arrive in time for the October 8 election. Candidate information is available on the Central App’s Election 2022 page here.