Wanganui District Council is set to stay with the "first past the post" voting system for the 2016 local body elections.
The council's strategy and policy committee discussed the voting options last week and opted for the status quo.
The choice for council is to stay with first past the post (FPP) or go with the single transferable vote (STV) system. STV is used for all district health board elections. Some local authorities use it, including Kaipara, Kapiti and Marlborough district councils along with Dunedin, Wellington and Porirua city councils.
Senior policy analyst Clive Aim told the committee STV was more expensive to process because there was a need to sequentially scan each ranked vote.
The voting system can be changed, either by the council deciding to do so or an electors' poll demanding a change. A poll requires support from at least 5 per cent support of voters.
Although the council is certain to rubber stamp its FPP preference, the decision will be publicly notified explaining the right of voters to demand a poll.
Mr Aim said because STV involved ranking candidates, the system was believed to provide more information about voters' wishes but its complex counting and transfer method reduced its transparency and appeared to increase the number of invalid and blank votes.
Councils must review their voting systems every six years and the next one was not due until August 2018. These full reviews may cover the issue of Maori representation, the number of councillors and the size, number and location of wards if there are any.
He said if a full and early review was wanted before the 2016 elections, council would need to decide that between March-September next year.
"Regardless of the council's decision, the council is required to publicly notify the voters' right to demand a poll on the issue before September 19 this year."
Mr Aim said there had never been a poll calling for a change before "but it is all part of the democratic process".
Councillor Hamish McDouall said that while STV was more democratic, it always carried a higher number of invalid votes and "is a very confusing system" for voters.