Voting System
Nominations
Election Calendar / Key Dates 2008
Electoral Rolls
Voting
Special Voting
Contact the Electoral Officer

Overview

Elections for all local authorities throughout New Zealand are held every three years, conducted by postal vote. They are known as the triennial elections.

The elections are conducted under the provisions of the new Local Electoral Act 2001, the Local Electoral Regulations 2001, and the Local Government Act 2002.

Triennial elections were held on 13 October 2007; however, insufficient candidates were elected to fill the available positions on the Vincent and Maniototo Community Boards.  A by-election was held on 4 April 2008 to fill the positions.  Now, due to the passing of one of the members of the Vincent Community Board a vacancy exists again.  A second by-election will be held to fill this position on Tuesday, 5 August 2008.

Voting System

The by-election will be conducted using the First-Past-the Post (FPP) electoral system. This means that voters choose one person per seat and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Nominations

FOR THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY BOARD

To represent the Earnscleugh Manuherikia Ward of the Vincent Community Board (1 member)

• SMITH, Graeme
• CADOGAN, Tim

An election will be held between the listed candidates on Tuesday 5 August 2008, under the First Past the Post electoral system by postal vote.

Election Calendar / Key Dates 2008

19 May - Nominations Open
Information packs and nomination forms will be available for potential candidates from this date. 

16 June - Nominations Close
Nominations close at 12 noon on this date.

14 July - 19 July - Delivery of Voting Papers
If your voting papers have not arrived during this period, special voting papers can be posted out or a special voting booth will be available at the Alexandra office.

14 July - 5 August - Voting Period
The voting period closes at 12 noon on Tuesday 5 August 2008.

Electoral Rolls

You need to be enrolled to vote in the by-election. If your name appears on the electoral rolls, you are eligible to vote.  The preliminary electoral roll will be available for public inspection at the Council office in Alexandra and local post shops at Clyde, Omakau and Ophir.

Residential Roll
All parliamentary electors for those districts are automatically enrolled on the local body electoral roll.

If you need to change any details on the residential electoral roll, you can either:

• complete the appropriate form at any post shop
• phone 0800 ENROLNOW (0800 367 656)
• access the Electoral Enrolment Centre website on www.elections.org.nz

Ratepayer Roll
If you own property in the Earnscleugh-Manuherikia ward of the Central Otago District but you live somewhere else, you are still eligible to be enrolled on the non-resident ratepayer roll.

A company, corporation or society paying rates on a property in the district may nominate one of its members or officers as a ratepayer elector, as long as the nominated person resides outside of the area.

Ratepayer roll enrolment forms are available from Alexandra Council office or may be downloaded below:

Ratepayer Enrolment Form (pdf 96kb)

Any changes to the ratepayer roll should be made at the council offices.

Voting

Voting documents will be sent to all eligible electors by post from 14 July 2008. The voting period is three weeks leading up to the election date.

All completed voting documents must be in the hands of the Electoral Officer or Deputy Electoral Officer by 12 noon on Tuesday 5 August 2008.

Methods for voting include:

• Post your completed voting papers using the pre paid envelope accompanying the voting papers.
• Deliver your completed voting papers into any Council office during normal office hours by 12 noon on Tuesday 5 August 2008.

Progress results will be released progressively as early as possible and will be published on this page.

Special Voting

Special votes are available to electors if:

• Your name does not appear on the final electoral rolls, but you do qualify as an elector.
• You did not receive voting documents
• You spoil or damage a voting document sent to you
• You name appears on the unpublished roll

Special votes require the completion of a statutory declaration. This is a legal requirement to protect against possible duplicate voting.

If you require a special vote, please call in to the polling place at the council offices in Alexandra during normal office hours on or before 12 noon, Tuesday 5 August 2008.

Contact the Electoral Officer

If you need any further information about these elections, please contact the following:

Kara Leckie - Electoral Officer - phone 03 440 0056 or email kara.leckie@codc.govt.nz
Christine Gourley - Deputy Electoral Officer - phone 03 440 0056 or email christine.gourley@codc.govt.nz