Voting in Local Elections
Te pōti ki ngā Pōtitanga ā-Rohe
Voting papers and information about the candidates will be delivered to mailboxes from Tuesday 9 September to Monday 22 September. Voting opens on Tuesday 9 September and closes at noon on Saturday 11 October.
Learn more about the candidates
We encourage you to find out more about the candidates, there are several ways you can do this.
- View the candidate profiles and videos
- Watch a replay of the livestream from the Meet the Candidate event in Ashburton on 27 August
- Find out which ward you live in by searching for your address on the Ashburton District Council Election App.
Helping you to vote in this election
He āwhina i a koe ki te pōti i tēnei pōtitanga
Postal Voting - Voting packs will be delivered to mailboxes from Tuesday 9 September, remember to Vote, Pack, Post
- Vote - Once you receive your voting papers, carefully read the included information and complete your voting document.
- Pack - Pack your completed voting papers into the free-post envelope.
- Post - Post your voting papers back before by Tuesday 7 October (so they reach us before voting closes) or pop them into one of our orange ballot bins.
Ballot Bin Locations - You can also return your completed voting paper to our orange ballot bins right up until noon on Saturday 11 October.
How does the voting work?
For the 2025 local elections in the Ashburton District, we'll be using the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system, where the candidates who receive the most votes will be elected. FPP does not use any sort of ranking system. Instead, you place a tick alongside the candidate or candidates you wish to vote for.
The maximum number of ticks you can place will match the number of vacancies available, and this will be clearly indicated on your voting paper. For example, if you're voting for councillors to represent the Ashburton Ward, you'll be able to vote for up to five candidates as there are five vacancies to fill. In contrast, when voting for a Mayor, you'll only be able to vote for one candidate.
Want to know more? Check out our FAQs for voters.
What is special voting?
If you forgot to enrol before 1 August or you don't receive your voting papers by 22 September, you can still cast a special vote.
Step 1: You need to be on the electoral roll to request a special vote. To enrol, visit vote.nz, call 0800 36 76 56, or freetext your name and address to 3676.
Step 2: Visit the Ashburton District Council Office at 2 Baring Square East, Ashburton and request your special voting documents. You'll need to complete a statutory declaration when you cast a special vote.
Special voting is available if:
- Your name is missing from the final electoral roll, but you still qualify (e.g. you forgot to enrol).
- You didn't receive your voting pack in the mail.
- Your voting paper was spoiled or damaged.
- You're going to be overseas during the election period.
- You're on the unpublished (private) roll.
Who are we voting for?
E pōti ana tātou mō wai?
Depending on where you live, you'll have a few elections to vote in:
- You'll be asked to vote for a mayor and councillors to represent your ward on the Ashburton District Council.
- Most residents will also be asked to elect trustees to the Braided Rivers Community Trust.
- You'll also vote for two councillors to represent the Mid Canterbury constituency on the Canterbury Regional Council - Environment Canterbury.
This election, voting is not required for the Eastern Ward of Council or the Methven Community Board as the number of candidates matched the number of available seats.
Find out which ward you live in by searching for your address on our Election App.
View a map of the ward boundaries here.
Representatives on:
Find Out More
Rapua he kōrero anō
Visit the Electoral Commission's website for more information about enrolling and voting, including other language options:
