Michelle Kennard received information on candidates standing in Northland not Stratford in her voting pack which arrived on Saturday.
Michelle Kennard received information on candidates standing in Northland not Stratford in her voting pack which arrived on Saturday.
Michelle Kennard isn't one to vote blindly.
Unfortunately, when she went to fill in her voting form, she discovered she didn't have as much information as she needed.
Across the country, voting packs have been sent out with a small booklet containing instructions and the all important candidate information.
Thebooklet Ms Kennard received, while clearly labelled on the front cover as being for Stratford District Council, Taranaki Regional Council, Manawatu - Wanganui Regional Council and the Taranaki District Health Board, actually contained information on candidates standing for election much further north.
"I am now truly well informed on candidates standing for election in Kaipara or the Northland District Health Board or Regional Council, but that really doesn't help me," Ms Kennard said.
She said she was able to solve her own problem but she remained concerned other would-be voters may be deterred.
"I already knew who I wanted to vote for when it came to the Regional and Stratford District Councils, as I have read about them in the Stratford Press and read articles about them etc, but for the Health Board I needed more information so had planned to read through the booklet carefully to help me make my choice.
"If I hadn't been able to borrow my partner's correct copy of the booklet I might have been tempted to not bother to vote."
Electorial officer Dale Ofsoske said Michelle's booklet was the only one brought to his attention so far.
Hopefully this is a one off printing error, and mistakes like this turn out to be few and far between.
He encouraged people to check their booklets and to contact Elections Services on 0800 922 822 if they needed to request a new booklet.
"We will get one out to them as quickly as possible as we want people to vote and to be able to do so with the correct information in front of them."
Deputy electoral officer for Stratford District Council, Mark Weidenbohm also hadn't heard of any other cases and said he was trying to source some spare copies of the booklet in case people need them.
"We are aware some were in mailboxes during heavy rain so they might be quite wet. While they will dry out, if people need a new copy we hope to have some in for them.
"Obviously this applies if anyone has the wrong booklet as well, so please give us a call at council and we will help where we can."
Michelle said she filled in her voting papers after borrowing her partner's booklet, but also encouraged people to check their booklet as soon as they get it.
"Don't leave it to the last minute to discover you don't have the right information, voting is too important to not do properly."
