They look like high vis rubbish wheelie bins, but they are not for rubbish.
Rather the bright orange receptacles are for people to put their voting papers into at the upcoming local body elections.
District council group manager democracy and engagement Toni Durham said four new locations had been added for this election, for which voting begins next month.
There were just two of the orange ballot bins at the last election in 2022.
‘‘We have added more locations to make it as easy as possible for people to return their papers and provide locals with a visual reminder to vote.’’
For this election, Local Government New Zealand which represents councils across the country, is providing more of the voting bins. It is in the face of declining voter turnout.
Since the nationwide restructuring of local government in 1989, turnout has declined from 56 per cent to 42 per cent at the last local body elections in 2022.
Ashburton District has a relatively high turnout; it was 50.62 per cent with 11,706 votes returned in 2022.
Voting papers will be mailed to residents from September 9 to September 22.
Completed voting papers can be mailed back in their accompanying postage-paid return envelopes by October 7, or dropped into any of the six orange ballot bins by the end of the voting period at noon on October 11.
The district council has its six bins on site at its Te Whare Whakatere headquarters.
It will add signage and deliver them to the six election locations.
