Note: You need to post it by Wednesday 5 October

If you’re intending to mail your vote, do it now so it arrives by the deadline of middaySaturday 8 October.

To date some 24.4 per cent of Auckland’s eligible voters have returned their ballots and that number is likely to swell rapidly as the cut off looms.

To make it as easy as possible to have your say on who leads Auckland for the next three years this is what you need to do:

1. Find out about the candidates – go to showyourlove.co.nz and do your own research and comparisons of what the candidates’ thoughts are on key issues or read the booklet that came with your voting document

2. Read your voting document carefully. Make your choices for mayor, ward and local board councillors (and in some areas licensing trusts) by ticking the boxes. You also need to vote for district health board members by a different system – the single transferable vote. You number the candidates in order of preference.showyourlove.co.nz has information on these candidates too.

3. Post your vote by 5 October to be sure it arrives by the midday Saturdaydeadline.

After 5 October you can:

4. Drop it into a ballot box at your local library or one of nine service centres or if you are in Britomart on your way to work you can deliver it to the Love Bus – you’ll spot the painted kombi van and giant love heart parked at the Queen Street end

5. Check the handy interactive map to find a post box or library ballot box onhttp://showyourlove.co.nz/howtovote#map-section

6. Return your vote by slotting it into a giant heart shaped ballot box at libraries at Orewa, Takapuna, New Lynn, Britomart, Manukau, Pakuranga and Pukekohe.

If you are not on the electoral roll you can still vote if you enrol by 4pm Friday 7 October and register for a special vote. Call the Electoral Office on 0800 922 822 for more information.

ENDS

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