A growing disinterest in local politics and a pool of new or junior candidates are some of the reasons voters are low, say outgoing local government politicians.
Dunedin City Council’s cumulative return rate for ballot papers was just 11.45% yesterday, down from 13.51% for the corresponding date in 2019.
In 2016, the return rate was 17.80%.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council had a return rate of 9.05% to 15.54% in 2019, significantly lower than the 24.02% of 2016.
Outgoing Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult said people were taking the time to do their due diligence.
Local councils were undergoing “major changes” with many key councilors leaving, including himself.
People would want to take the time to understand each new candidate to make sure they voted for the right person, which was a good thing, he said.
Many people would also be concerned about the real values of the new candidates, for example if they supported controversial causes like Voices for Freedom.
In some places, the quality of the candidates was poor, which also caused delays in voting, he said.
He expected a rush to get closer to the deadline.
Outgoing Dunedin councilor Chris Staynes said interest in local government has been waning for some time.
It was a disappointing state for everyone, as the public wasn’t being listened to and councilors wouldn’t really know if they had the support of the community.
Many people who didn’t vote, like Dunedin’s university students, didn’t realize the impact they could have.
It was “high time” that politics was taught in secondary schools, and possibly even primary schools, so that people understood their democratic responsibilities.
There was also a change in the “caliber of candidates”, which was more difficult to navigate due to the lack of information about new candidates.
Returning councilors could be judged by their performance and reputation, but voters had to be careful with newcomers because there was little information to show what they would really be like if elected, he said.
Returns from other areas remained relatively high, but still lower than in previous elections, such as the Gore District Council with a return rate of 21.81% compared to last year’s 23.72%.
Southland District Council was the only council with a higher return rate than any previously recorded election, with 15.98% yesterday up from 12.66% in 2019.
The voice
Cumulative return rate yesterday
2022 2019
Dunedin 11.45% 13.51%
Queenstown Lakes 9.05% 15.54%
Central Otago 16.16% 25.01%
waitaki 22.36% 28.51%
Invercargill 18.29% 21.31%
Southland 15.98% 12.66%
gore 21.81% 23.72%
Environment Southland, Otago Regional Council and Clutha District Council yield percentages were not available yesterday.