Details about the by-election — including the timing of the nominations period — emerged yesterday, but some arrangements were yet to be confirmed.
The council said it was still waiting on quotes associated with the electoral process, including confirmation of postal costs, and this was why it had not yet publicly declared a final cost figure.
"We can say that with the election being city-wide, open to all eligible voters in Dunedin, and with tens of thousands of voting papers needing to be sent out, the cost of the by-election will be significant," council chief executive Sandy Graham said.
Cr Russell Lund said Ms Graham told councillors she expected the by-election cost to be about $400,000.
Costs had not been confirmed, but were estimated to be in that vicinity, Cr Lund said.
"I am quite staggered at the cost of the by-election, which has been estimated at $400,000 by the chief executive," he said.
Cr Benedict Ong confirmed he had seen the $400,000 figure, which he understood to be a projection estimate.
A by-election is required in Dunedin after the death of city councillor Jules Radich on January 4.
A statement from the council yesterday did not include information about the nominations period.
However, electionz.com chief returning officer Warwick Lampp said nominations would open on February 2 and close on March 2.
Voting would begin on April 10, he said.
Mr Lampp said the selection of May 12 as election day meant Easter would not fall within the voting period.
The by-election timing was affected by the summer holiday period and it was also appropriate to take into account a period of mourning for Mr Radich, he said.
Mr Lampp agreed the by-election was likely to cost about $400,000, but said variables included the total number of candidates, which would affect the size of documents that needed to be printed.
The location of orange voting bins were yet to be determined, he said.
"There may well be opportunities to trim costs somewhat."
Ms Graham signalled initiatives at October’s election such as flying voting ballots to Christchurch so they could be counted more quickly were unlikely to feature.
"We do not expect this by-election will require the use of a chartered aircraft or last-minute Octagon voting arrangements, or orange bins at a wide range of locations, but we’ll announce further details once the arrangements are confirmed," she said.
Ms Graham described a logistical exercise, such as meeting requirements regarding voter enrolment and roll preparation.
"This by-election is being organised at short notice and in tragic circumstances, outside of normal triennial electoral timetables, which provide for planning three years in advance."
Cr Lund was one person who had doubted the by-election date should be so late in the year.
He also doubted a by-election should even be held in circumstances such as Dunedin’s — Mr Radich died less than three months after the election — but legislation requires it. The council cannot simply ask the highest-polling unsuccessful council candidate from October to serve.
"Surely there should be some period following the election where you can just take the next candidate," Cr Lund said.
He noted other councils had historically run by-elections more cheaply than the cost the city council appeared to be headed for.
By-election details
Nominations open February 2
Nominations close March 2
Voting opens April 10
Voting closes May 12
