Better election turnout expected

Manawatu District Council Deputy Electoral Officer, Janine Hawthorn, is disappointed the turnout for the 2007 Local Government Elections did not reach 50 percent, despite voting being required for the mayoralty and three wards.

Mrs Hawthorn said Manawatu’s 46.50 percent response was good when compared to neighbouring councils, but she had hoped district electors would show greater interest and buck the national trend of ongoing voter apathy.

A total of 9387 voting papers were returned from the district’s 20,540 registered electors. In 2004, there had been a 39.20 percent return (without a mayoral election), compared to 52.20 percent in 2001 and 57.20 percent in 1998.

She said more than 100 people hand-delivered their votes to the council office on Saturday morning, with one elector completing his selections only two minutes before the midday close-off.

Mrs Hawthorn said there had been 4769 returns (48.41 percent) in the Feilding ward, where 10 candidates were vying for five seats; 1976 replies (48.04 percent) in Kiwitea-Pohangina, where three candidates were seeking two seats, and 2642 completed papers (42.45 percent) in Kairanga, where there had been five nominations for three seats.

The 2007 elections resulted in District Mayor, Ian McKelvie, retaining his position for a third term, and five new district councillors – Margaret Giles, Howard Voss, Steve Gibson, Barbara Cameron and Alison Short.

Progress results were announced about an hour after voting closed on Saturday when 98 percent of the voting papers returned had been processed. Preliminary results were announced early Sunday evening.

Mrs Hawthorn said final results would be announced shortly, after the inclusion of special votes, and made available on the council’s website here.