Just over a quarter of Queenstown Lakes residents and ratepayers had voted in this year’s local body elections by
Wednesday morning.
Voter returns in the area have been tracking, so far, behind what they were at this stage of play in 2016 and in 2019.
By Wednesday morning, 8749 people had their votes in, equating to 31.15% of the eligible voting population.
That was a significant jump from Monday night, where the return was 18.09% — by comparison, at the same stage in 2019, the return was 23.62% and in 2016 it was 32.01%.
On Monday night, the voter return in the Queenstown-Whakatipu ward was lowest, at 16.54%, with 18.05% of the Arrowtown-Kawarau ward’s votes received, and 19.39% of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha ward.
Anyone still wishing to vote must now deliver their voting papers to the council offices, either on Gorge Road in Queenstown or Ardmore Street in Wānaka, or at the Frankton and Arrowtown libraries.
Voting closes at noon, sharp, on Saturday — anyone who’s not enrolled, or didn’t receive voting papers in the mail, can make a special vote in person at council’s offices.
Electoral officer Jane Robertson says preliminary results will be available later on Saturday, with the final result due by next Thursday.
