Help fill the vacant Hamilton City Council seat by voting, council urges

Monday, 12 February 2024

Hamilton City Council is urging residents to get going and vote in the by-election.

Hamilton City Council is urging voters to get ready to tick their chosen box after just 6650 voting packs from a total of 56,408 eligible voters have been returned for the Hamilton East by-election.

As of Friday, that’s just 11.79% of eligible voters.

Deputy electoral officer Amy Viggers has called on all eligible voters on the east side of the river to cast their vote.

In total, 16 candidates are vying for the vacant seat.

“It’s so easy to vote. You simply need to rank and return – rank the candidates and return your voting paper,” said Viggers.

Hamilton City Council said a number of locations were open for people to cast their vote.

Hamiltonians have been favouring posting their votes, with 93.4% of all votes received so far having been posted in New Zealand Post boxes across the city.

“You can also pop it in a ballot box at any of our libraries on the east side of the river,” she said.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for voters to have their say on who the new Hamilton East Ward councillor should be.”

So far, Chartwell library is winning the battle for ballots.

Council staff have retrieved 287 unopened votes from the ballot box at Chartwell Library versus 107 unopened votes from Te Kete Aronui Rototuna Library and only 97 from Hillcrest Library.

“It will be interesting to see which library has the most engaged Hamiltonians in the neighbourhood!”

Voters are being urged to post their ballots back by Monday February 12 to guarantee they will arrive in time to be counted when voting closes at midday on Saturday February 17.

Voting papers can also be hand-delivered to any ballot box location.

Council said anyone that had not received a pack is likely not enrolled or needs to update their details on the electoral roll.

Those not already enrolled can do so up to Friday, February 16.

Those wanting to cast a ballot can also ask for a special vote.

Special voting packs are available at the three libraries, and at the Hamilton City Council Municipal Building, Garden Place.

For information on all other ballot box locations go to: hamilton.govt.nz/elections.