Far North residents have until March 17 to have their say on whether the council should bring in dedicated Maori wards.
Voting forms in the postal ballot have been sent to all registered Far North electors and arrived in most letterboxes this week.
Last year the council decided to hold a binding poll about setting up dedicated Maori seats around the council table for the 2016 and 2019 local elections.
If a majority of votes are in favour of Maori wards, the council will determine the number of general and Maori wards - as well as the number of councillors for each - when it conducts a representation review later this year.
Mayor John Carter said the council was committed to working more closely with Maori but it didn't have a view on dedicated Maori wards.