2010 Voting System Election Calendar/Key Dates 2010 Electoral Rolls Ward Details Elected Member Representation Voting Special Voting Nominations Contact the Electoral Officer Standing for Council or Community Board / Nominations

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 Local Electoral Act 2001, the Local Electoral Regulations 2001, and the Local Government Act 2002.

The next triennial local government elections will be held on Saturday 9 October 2010.

2010 Voting System

Central Otago District Council will use the FPP system for the 2010 triennial elections.

The District Health Board will conduct its triennial election using the Single Tranferable Vote system.

Election Calendar/Key Dates 2010

23 July - Nominations Open
Information packs and nomination forms will be available for potential candidates from this date.  Click here

20 August - Nominations Close
Nominations close at 12 noon on this date.

17 September - 22 September - 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, Cromwell, Ranfurly and Roxburgh offices.

17 September - 9 October - Voting Period
The voting period closes at 12 noon on 9 October.

Electoral Rolls

You need to be enrolled to vote in a local body election. If your name appears on the electoral rolls, you are eligible to vote. The preliminary electoral rolls, one for each community, will be available for public inspection at Council offices in Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly, Roxburgh from Friday 23 July 2010 to Friday 20 August 2010.

Residential Roll
All parliamentary electors are automatically enrolled on the local body electoral roll. A confirmation card will be sent to the last known address of all parliamentary electors during July and August 2010.

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 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 ofthe area.

Ratepayer roll enrolment forms are available from Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly, Roxburgh council offices and all district libraries or downloaded below:

Ratepayer Enrolment Form

The electoral roll closes on 20 August 2010.

Ward Details

There are 5 wards in the Central Otago District. They are:

• Alexandra
• Cromwell
• Earnscleugh Manuherikia
• Maniototo
• Roxburgh

View a map of the ward boundaries

Elected Member Representation

The Central Otago District will be represented by:

• 1 Mayor (district wide)
• 3 councillors to represent the Alexandra Ward
• 3 councillors to represent the Cromwell Ward
• 2 councillors to represent the Earnscleugh - Manuherikia Ward
• 1 councillor to represent the Maniototo Ward
• 1 councillor to represent the Roxburgh Ward

In addition there are 4 Community Boards:

• Vincent Community Board – 5 elected members ( 3 from Alexandra Ward and 2 from Earnscleugh Manuherikia Ward)
• Cromwell Community Board – 4 Elected members
• Maniototo Community Board – 4 Elected members
• Roxburgh Community Board – 4 Elected members

Elections will also be held for:

Otago Regional Council - Dunstan constituency (2 members)

Southern District Health Board - Otago Constituency (4 members)  Link to website

Central Otago Health Incorporated (4 members) One each from Alexandra, Cromwell, Earnscleugh Manuherikia and Roxburgh Wards

Voting

Voting documents will be sent to all eligible electors by post from Friday 17 September 2010. 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 Saturday 9 October 2010.

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 Friday 8 October 2010.
• Deliver your completed voting papers into the Alexandra Office by 12.00 noon on election day Saturday 9 October 2010.

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, Cromwell, Roxburgh or Ranfurly during normal office hours and into the Alexandra office only before noon on 9 October 2010.

Standing for Council or Community Board / Nominations

Nominations for all positions will open on Friday 23 July 2010 and close at 12 noon on Friday 20 August 2010.

To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must:

• be over 18 years of age, and
• be enrolled as a parliamentary elector anywhere in New Zealand, and
• be a New Zealand Citizen (this requirement was introduced for the first time in 2004)

Restrictions

• You can not stand for election to both Central Otago District Council and the Otago Regional Council
• You can not stand for election to more than one ward within the Central Otago District Council

Candidates must be nominated by two people who are on the electoral roll in the ward you wish to represent. Both signatures must be present on the nomination form.  Candidates can not nominate themselves. They can stand independently or under a party grouping or affiliation, similar to the process political parties use in parliamentary elections.

Candidates must supply a $200 deposit.

Candidates can supply a candidate profile statement and photograph for insertion into the Candidate Profile Booklet.

Nominations of candidates must be in the hands of the Electoral Officer, Central Otago District Council, 1 Dunorling Street, Alexandra not later than noon on 20 August 2010.  It is preferred nominations are received earlier to ensure there is enough time to make any changes that may be necessary.

Nomination forms and Candidate Information Packs will be available from the council offices in Alexandra, Cromwell, Ranfurly and Roxburgh or available for download below.

Central Otago District Council Elections

• Nomination Form
• Candidate Information Handbook
• A candidate's guide to local government
• Expenses Return

Central Otago Health Inc

• Nomination Form
• Candidate Information
• Please download the Central Otago District Council Candidate Information Handbook for information on the Election process.

Otago Regional Council and Southern District Health Board

• All nomination forms and handbooks are available from Pam Jordan, Electoral Officer on the Dunedin City Council website www.dunedin.govt.nz/election

Nominations

Contact the Electoral Officer

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

Kara Leckie- Electoral Officer - phone 03 440 0611 or email kara.leckie@codc.govt.nz

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