Elections - Vote

Wellington City Council has the option of using either of the following voting methods at an election or poll:

• postal voting or
• booth voting.

The Council has used the postal voting method to elect its members since 1989.

Postal Voting

If you are enrolled to vote, you will receive a voting document in the post along with a freepost return envelope. Use the envelope to return your voting document to the Council Electoral Officer.

Voting documents are sent out to all eligible voters 3 weeks before election day.

You need to complete and return your papers to the Electoral Officer by no later than 12 noon on polling day (the day on which the voting period for an election or poll ends).

Special Voting

You can apply for a special vote during the 3-week voting period if one of these situations apply:

• your name does not appear on the final electoral roll, but you qualify as an elector
• you did not receive a voting document
• you spoiled or damaged a voting document previously posted to you
• your name appears on the unpublished electoral roll.

You can apply for a special vote by:

• contacting the Council Electoral Officer, or
• coming to the polling booth at the City Service Centre (101 Wakefield Street) during the three-week period before polling day.

For a special vote, you also need to fill in a statutory declaration. This is a legal requirement and protects against possible duplicate voting.

Related Links

• Single Transferable Vote (STV) website

Department Details:
Democratic Services