Voters: make your choice count

Chief electoral officer Warwick Lampp said voting documents should be ready by September 20.

If you can't get your hands on your voting papers you can't have your say in Rotorua's upcoming local government elections.

The Rotorua Daily Post has received enquiries from readers asking if they can vote if they are going to be out of town during the election period.

Voting documents for the Rotorua District Council, Lakes District Health Board, Rotorua Lakes Community Board and Bay of Plenty Regional Council are posted out between September 20 and 25.

Voters have until midday on October 12 to make their choices, but they need to make sure they post their forms a few days before October 12 to ensure they arrive on time.

Otherwise, voters can drop off their documents to one of a number of ballot boxes around the district. These locations will include the Rotorua District Council customer centre and the City Focus.

Other ballot box locations will be advertised at a later date.

Chief electoral officer Warwick Lampp said voting documents should be ready by September 20 and if people are leaving town they can make a special vote at the council on that date.

"Legally, if people are away over the voting period they can have their voting papers sent to them overseas, or wherever they are, and as long as they are back before voting closes their vote will count.

"Otherwise they will miss out," he said.

However, Mr Lampp said 2016 could see the introduction of electronic voting which would solve those problems.

Even though it's too late to get on the electoral roll and have your voting documents posted out, it's not too late to get on the roll and make a special vote.

To check if you are on the electoral roll and your postal details are correct, or to get on the roll, visit www.elections.org.nz or call (0800) 36 76 56.