"Byelections are, by their very nature, unexpected and inconvenient.
"Add to that the inconvenience of a postal or hand-delivery voting system and you have the perfect formula to ensure large portions of our voting population will never be represented on council", she said.
"Is it little wonder then that those under 35 are so disengaged with local government?
"It's time that local government voting moves out of the dark ages and provides voting options that suit everyone.
"We need to keep the traditional postal and hand-delivery options, but we also need to provide online options for those voters who want a more immediate (and reliable) way to make their voice heard."
Meanwhile last-minute campaigning was still on the agenda for the candidates, including council candidate Rion Roben, who had spoken with a group of health professionals over the weekend and had meetings lined up this week with some farmers and growers.
"I have not done a lot of the traditional campaigning as I wanted to take a different approach," said Mr Roben.
"I have been rather low key and opted for face-to-face meetings as the traditional campaigning was outside of what I could afford."
He said that overall the turnout was looking very low, but said this was not unexpected following the general election and that for the Hawke's Bay Consumers' Power Trust.
Mayoral candidate Stuart Perry said that while he had had excellent support so far, he would be chasing the votes right up to the finish line.
"I would hope that by now most people have a pretty good idea what I stand for and the issues I believe are important for the community, so now it is really about encouraging those who have not voted to fill in the papers and deliver them to the council offices.
"It is really frustrating that the number of votes cast to date are so low, but to be fair, perhaps the community is just a bit over elections. After last year's triennial election for council, then the long general election campaign, the last thing the voters wanted was to endure another byelection.
"Let's hope this is the last for another two years."
The low voter turnout to date was disappointing, but not unexpected, said mayoral candidate Bayden Barber, although he hoped there would be a mad rush in the last few days.
He said he had attended several events over the weekend including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints legacy ball, a family day at Flaxmere Park and the Taiwhenua o Heretaunga annual meeting.
Yesterday morning was spent canvassing his fellow wave riders at Te Awanga, he said.
"Some were yet to cast their vote so it was a worthwhile exercise and it was a lot of fun. The rest of the week will be spent doing more traditional canvassing such as door knocking."
Mayoral candidate Waitawhara Tupaea said the current low voter turnout was concerning because of the risk a proper cross-section of society would not be adequately represented.
"I believe it requires an extensive dialogue about how politics impacts upon the community ... enabling conversations about day-to-day issues to happen across the community in the smoko room and in the home, not just the executive room."
A busy weekend had been spent attending the Camberley annual family event, Riding for Disabled ribbon day, the Lions annual book fair, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints legacy ball, said mayoral candidate Sandra Hazlehurst.
"At each event people came up to me and said seeing me reminded them they needed to vote.
"Byelections normally have a lower turnout than triennial elections though."
Preliminary results will be available as soon as practicable after 3pm on Friday.