Get your voting papers into the post

With just one week to go until voting closes in the local body elections, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula voters are being urged to fill out their ballot papers and get them in the post.

“Completed voting papers need to be mailed by 5pm on Tuesday 8 October to ensure they arrive before voting closes at noon on Saturday 12 October,’’ says Christchurch City Council Electoral Officer Jo Daly.

“I really encourage all those who have not yet voted to take some time at the weekend to complete their voting papers and to mail them back in the postage-paid envelope that came with the papers.

“If you don’t get your voting papers in the mail by 5pm on Tuesday,  you will need to hand deliver them to one of the ballot boxes available at all Council libraries, service centres and the ground floor of the Civic Offices in Hereford Street,’’ Ms Daly say.

“You can do that right up until voting closes at noon on Saturday.’’

People can find information about the candidates standing in their area in the candidate booklet that came with their voting papers, on the Council website, or by using the free Celect app.

Ms Daly says if people have not received voting papers or they have lost or damaged their voting papers, they can still take part in the election. They will need visit one of eight Council sites around the city, email elections2019@ccc.govt.nz or phone 03 941-8581 to have a special vote issued.

So far 15.48 per cent of eligible voters in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula have returned their voting papers.