Most voters in the district are still able to influence the make-up of the Central Otago District Council and many are choosing to do so, although turnout is so far lower than at the same time in 2019.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, who was re-elected unopposed, said electing councillors was similar to appointing a company board of directors and the council’s operations affected the day-to-day lives of residents.
"I think there is something of a view that the mayor holds presidential powers, which we don’t," Mr Cadogan said.
Voter turnout in Central Otago was at 34.9% as of Tuesday night, compared with 40.2% at the equivalent time in 2019, 49.1% in 2016 and just 34.1% in 2013.
Local Government New Zealand chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said councils that had competitive races usually had better voter turnout.
"We’re particularly concerned that turnout will be much lower in areas where there are mayors who are elected unopposed, such as Central Otago," she said.
"Mayors play an important leadership role, but it’s vital that you have a say on who is around the council chambers, too."
People who were not yet enrolled to vote could still participate in the elections, Ms Freeman-Greene said.
"You can still enrol online and cast a special vote at your local council office."
However, not everybody in Central Otago has a say in electing representatives to the district council.
In Maniototo, the ward’s sole vacancy was filled by Stuart Duncan and there was no election for the community board, as four candidates filled the four vacancies.
This left voters there with the chance only to influence the makeup of the Otago Regional Council. Even so, turnout in the Maniototo ward was up to 31.4% on Tuesday night.
Mr Cadogan said it was a crying shame if people who had the right to vote did not use it.
