The council chamber in the Municipal Chambers.

Dunedin's next election could be decided by a first-past-the-post vote.

A change to how Dunedin voters cast their ballot could be voted on in the Dunedin City Council chambers next week.

Council civic team leader Clare Sullivan writes in her report to councillors a decision is not mandatory but, on Tuesday, councillors will be offered the opportunity to change from the current single transferable vote scheme, maintain the status quo, or hold a poll.

"Whichever system is chosen, it is likely that there will still be a mix of electoral systems on the voting documents.

"District health boards are required to use the [single transferable vote] system," she writes.

"It has been argued that a mix of voting systems on the voting document appears to confuse some voters."

A poll could be demanded by Dunedin voters if at least 5% of those who were enrolled to vote at the 2019 Dunedin election, or 4674 voters, call for the change.

Signatures for a petition have been collected in city centre shops in recent weeks.

George St retailer Brent Weatherall said he was not leading the current petition, but backed its aims.

Mr Weatherall recently presented the council a petition with more than 6000 signatures opposing a change to one-way traffic in George St.

He said it would be "a walk in the park" to collect 5000 signatures and the council could not ignore the new petition.

"It’s not a witch hunt against the present regime.

"It’s just that we feel that a lot of people are speaking up about what’s happening in and around Dunedin on a number of issues — and the common response we’re getting around ‘Did you vote?’ is ‘Oh, that system is just blimmin’ ridiculous’," he said.

"A lot of people found it too hard and just started the fire with it [the ballot]. They didn’t want to make a science of it."

"We want a change.

"We want to include more people, make it a far more simple system."

In New Zealand, 67 territorial and regional authorities use first-past-the-post voting; 11 use the single transferable vote.

A February Otago Daily Times poll attracted 157 votes: 58% favoured changing to first past the post and 42% favoured sticking with the status quo.

Dunedin has used the single transferable vote system since 2004.