The amalgamation referendum is (nearly) all over, bar the shouting.
Of course, many of the shouters were in full cry well in advance of today's pending outcome.
In fact, the debate is akin to the fabled premise of the Spartan council of elders, where weighty issues were decided by whichlobby shouted the loudest.
However, for all its acrimony, the heat of this provincial skirmish sure has drawn the punters.
After a quick vote tally last night, it's evident that, compared with the local authority elections in 2013, a significantly higher percentage of the province has placed its vote. (The disparity particularly notable in Napier.) The way things are stacking up, voter turnout is likely to be well into the 60 per cent range.
It's been a fascinating battle. From the privileged view of a newspaper, we've heard every amalgamation conspiracy known to man. Most of them puerile, some sad, some outright hilarious.
A real insight was the reminder that for some voters the "yes" or "no" vote has little, if not nothing, to do with amalgamation. We heard one elderly resident say she's voting a certain way because her mayor didn't fix her footpath. But ever thus was democracy. That's what makes the race so intriguing.
Voting is open until noon today. As of yesterday, it was looking likely that about 70,000 votes will land.
Of those, here's hoping for an emphatic mandate. That way, the (hopefully) vast majority of voters can join either the amalgamation subscribers in celebrating imminent change - or the anti-merger proponents toasting the status quo.
