Family urge people not to vote for dead paralympian

Tributes flow for Graham Condon. Photo / Simon Baker

A city council candidate is expected to win a swag of votes in the local body elections even though he is dead.

But his family and election officials are urging people not to waste their votes by paying tribute to record-holding paralympian and popular Christchurch city councillor Graham Condon.

Mr Condon was on a training ride on his specially modified three-wheeled hand-cycle when he was struck and killed by a car on the outskirts of Christchurch earlier this month.

The 15-year-old driver of the car is expected to face charges.

The timing of Mr Condon's death meant it was too late to remove his name from council voting papers that have been mailed out to Christchurch homes.

Christchurch electoral officer Max Robertson said he was required by law to take steps to advise people not to vote for Mr Condon, and had advertised as such.

"Any votes for him will be treated as void."

Mr Condon's close friend and fellow city councillor, Norm Withers, said the message would go unheeded by many.

"I guarantee there will be a considerable numbers of votes he will receive as a memoriam to the man," Mr Withers said.

"There will be a few people, though not many, that may not even know about his death."

Mr Condon's son Craig said he had heard of people planning to vote for his father.

"It's a really nice thought, but ... It's a shame to waste your vote that way, and I don't think that is what Dad would want."

A multimillion-dollar new leisure centre in Christchurch has been named after Mr Condon.