Voting open in Regional Council’s Eastern Bay by-election

Voting papers are now in the mail. Voting opened yesterday for Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s by-election for its vacant Eastern Bay General constituency seat.

Eligible voters now have until midday on Friday 25 September to vote and return their voting paper to be counted.

The by-election is required following the death of Councillor Malcolm Campbell earlier this year.

Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chief Executive Fiona McTavish says the by-election gives Eastern Bay voters a chance to help shape the region’s future.

“The decisions made around the Regional Council table have a real impact on local communities, from how we protect our environment to how we manage public transport, biosecurity, flood protection and regional planning,” she says.

“This is a chance for Eastern Bay voters to choose who speaks for them as the region works through some big changes. If you receive voting papers, please take a moment to vote and return them before the deadline.”

Voting is by post using the First Past the Post system. People can return their completed voting paper in the freepost envelope provided, or drop it into one of the orange voting bins. Details of where these bins are found is available on the Regional Council’s website.

Special votes are available for eligible voters who have not received their voting papers, have lost or damaged them, enrolled late, are on the unpublished roll, or need to update their enrolment details. This is available during normal office hours at Regional Council offices in Tauranga and Whakatāne, with additional sessions at Ōpōtiki District Council on Tuesday 22 September and Kawerau District Council on Wednesday 23 September, from 10am to 3pm.

Information about candidates, voting, special voting and orange voting bin locations is available at www.boprc.govt.nz/elections, or by calling 0800 884 880.

ENDS