With just days to go until the polls close, Dunedin City Council Electoral Officer Anthony Morton is reminding electors who haven’t yet returned their voting papers to do so as soon as possible this week.
“If electors haven’t already sent in their voting papers, now is the time to complete and return them. To be counted, voting papers must be received by noon on Saturday, 11 October, election day,” Mr Morton says.
Tomorrow – Tuesday, 7 October – is the last recommended day to return any voting papers by post. After Tuesday, electors should return them via one of the orange voting bins located around the city or drop them into the electoral office at the Civic Centre in the Octagon. Voting bin locations are listed at the front of the candidate profile booklet included in the voter packs, and online at www.dunedin.govt.nz/vote.
“Around 15,000 votes have been returned to date, however over the past three elections, more than 50% of the returned voting papers for Dunedin City elections have been received over the last week. This year’s returns are looking to follow that same pattern. I’m encouraging voters to exercise their right to vote and to return their voting papers as soon as possible this week,” Mr Morton says.
If electors aren’t yet enrolled to vote, haven’t received their voting papers or have damaged or spoilt them, it’s definitely not too late – they can still cast a special vote. Special voting facilities are available in the Civic Centre. People can call in from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, and also on the morning of Saturday, 11 October. However, for a special vote to count, the elector must be enrolled on or before Friday, 10 October.
In the 2022 election, the return rate in Dunedin was 50%, and the city had the third highest voter turnout in a metropolitan area, behind Nelson and Invercargill.
“We’d love to get another podium finish this time around,” says Deputy Electoral Officer, Robyn Dillon. “We’ve got the highest number of candidates standing for election, so let’s aim for one of the best voter turnouts as well.”
She says if voting seems daunting because there are so many candidates to choose from, voters don’t need to feel overwhelmed.
“You don’t need to rank everyone, and you don’t need to select candidates for every available position on Council or community board. Just rank the people you want to see elected. If you don’t rate them, don’t rank them.”
Drive and drop voting
While we’re urging people not to leave voting until the very last minute, there will be a “drive and drop” voting option in the Octagon on the morning of Saturday, 11 October.
“Traffic management will be in place so you don’t need to worry about finding a park and coming inside to vote – our elections team members can collect your papers directly from your vehicle,” says Ms Dillon. “But if you can, please get your votes in sooner rather than later.”
Election results will be available on the DCC website late afternoon on Saturday, 11 October 2025.