Voting has opened in the Dunedin City Council by-election.<\/p>\n
Residents started receiving voting papers in the mail yesterday and the council has recommended posting completed ballots no later than May 7.<\/p>\n
The polls close at noon on May 12.<\/p>\n
The by-election was called to replace Cr Jules Radich, who died in January.<\/p>\n
Fourteen candidates are standing for election.<\/p>\n
They include several former councillors \u2014 Bill Acklin, Carmen Houlahan, Aaron Hawkins, Andrew Whiley and Conrad Stedman.<\/p>\n
Also standing are Jo Galer, Lync Aronson, Garreth Ottley, Pamela Taylor, Richard Knights, Lianna MacFarlane, Angela McErlane, Gordon Dickson and Angus Mackay.<\/p>\n
Council deputy electoral officer Robyn Dillon said residents should not worry if their voting papers did not arrive immediately.<\/p>\n
People on the electoral roll by March 2 should receive the ballots in the post by April 24.<\/p>\n
If that was not the case, residents could cast a special vote.<\/p>\n
Special voting papers can be collected from the electoral office in the Civic Centre.<\/p>\n
Voting papers could be returned by post or put in orange voting bins around the city.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re encouraging everyone to get out and vote and help decide who joins the council table,” Mrs Dillon said.<\/p>\n
The electoral system being used is single transferable vote, which was also used for the Dunedin City Council elections last October.<\/p>\n
This means voters rank candidates in order of preference.<\/p>\n
Voters can rank as many, or few, candidates as they like.<\/p>\n
“You don\u2019t need to rank all the candidates \u2014 only the ones you support being elected.<\/p>\n
“Remember, if you rate them, rank them.”<\/p>\n
In the end, one candidate will receive enough support to be elected.<\/p>\n