Returns for the local body election have ramped up as the closing date this Saturday looms.
Voting return statistics released from election provider Electionz show 6800 out of 22,987 have been received as of 4pm Friday.
This is a return of just 29.58 per cent – 1432 from the Western Ward, 1075 from the Eastern Ward and 4290 from the Ashburton Ward.
Voting officially closes at noon this Saturday.
The turnout for the last election in 2022 was 50.62 per cent, with 11,706 votes returned.
Nationwide, the turnout for local body elections in 2022 was about 41 per cent. This had dropped over the years, from 56 per cent in 1989.
Completed forms must be posted today to be received in time. Alternatively, voting ballot bins are located at six locations around the district.
Get those votes in: Put your voting envelope in one of the ballot bins around the district. Ballot bins are located at: Ashburton library, Ashburton District Council, EA Networks Centre, FreshChoice Tinwald, Rakaia Mobil and Four Square Methven.
