Local body elections: Five tips to get you voting

Monday, 30 September 2019

The signs were not good as the 2019 Auckland Council election loomed

OPINION: It has probably been sitting on your kitchen bench for a week, the green and white envelope with that irritating slogan 'You really need to open this'.

It is not your Readers' Digest winner's confirmation letter, it is your local body voting papers - hence the sub-slogan 'Your vote could be the decider'.

And it could, so few Aucklanders voted last time - fewer than four in ten - that yours could be a mayor-maker.

Jannaha Henry, Phil Goff and John Tamihere, just three of 21 choices awaiting your vote for Auckland mayor

If you are disillusioned, intimidated or just plain disinterested in opening the envelope, here are a few tips to turn you into a voter.

* Local body elections: What to do if your voting pack doesn't arrive in the mail

* Local elections: Do some research and vote. This matters.

* Who do you want on your local council? Your choices start now**

1. Read the candidates' stories

Forget about the voting paper for now, pick a category, say Mayor, and read their short pitches in the accompanying brochure. Some are funny, even unintentionally, some give insights into lifestyles you never knew existed. You will definitely find one to warm to, no matter what their chance of winning. Tick. If you really can't find a mayor you like, leave it blank as long as you promise to tackle the next part of the voting paper. In 2016, 5,815 skipped over voting for a mayor.

2. Pace yourself

You have four sets of decisions to make, and the last one is the hardest so why not spread it over a few days, or one for breakfast, one for dinner, and so on. You have already chosen a mayor, see above, so move on to the ward councillor(s). There are far fewer to choose from, and if you vote by political colour there's often nothing to think about. In two wards, Rodney and Franklin, there's not even a contest. How hard is that?

3. Focus on the detail

Now you are at the local board, the second tier of council (though they hate being called that) and the one that really has an impact on your local community and its amenities. These candidates could be your neighbour. Think about whether your area has done well over the past three years. See Tip No.1: You'll be surprised how easy it is to pick a few.

4. The elephant in the A and E room - it might not be tasty but it's good for you.

Have a cup of your favourite stimulant and get comfortable before tackling the selection of District Health Board members. Here you need to pick perhaps 7, and rank them in order. Take my word for it, don't broach the subject of what do they do, and why care, it is important so just take the medicine. Usually there are a few names you will recognise, people who have had past but different public lives. Revisit Tip No.1. If you can find the required number that's the main thing, ranking properly is a bonus, but you must number them, not tick. Last time 55,000 did not bother and 17,000 got it wrong. Vote DHB - imagine the bragging rights.

5. Post it - and I'm not talking sticky labels

Up to October 8 you just have to find somewhere to post it. NZ Post has removed more than 50 post boxes around Auckland since the last election, but there's still 430 out there. As well as the community drop-offs provided by the council. Post early because it requires more effort to get your paper in during the last few days leading up to October 12. Last election 2,877 made the effort to vote but sent their papers in too late. Doh!

If you realise you have not enrolled, that is also not too late, with one-stop shops where you can sign-up and vote at the same time.