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 New Zealand portal |
Local elections are held every three years ending on the second Saturday in October in New Zealand to elect local government politicians using postal voting.
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New Zealand portal |
Local elections are held every three years ending on the second Saturday in October in New Zealand to elect local government politicians using postal voting.
Elections for the city, district and regional councils of New Zealand have a fixed election date, unlike general elections. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001,[1] elections must be held on the "second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001. The last local body elections were held on 8 October 2022. The next will be held on 11 October 2025. Local elections are mostly organised by district and city councils, with other organisations (for example the Electoral Commission, and the Department of Internal Affairs) having peripheral roles. The elections determine the membership of district, city, and regional councils. In some places, licensing trusts and local boards are also voted for.[2] Elections are held by postal voting.[2]
Under New Zealand law, those who are eligible to enrol (18 year of age, lived in New Zealand continuously for at least one year at some time, and are either a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident) must do so. People can vote in the area where they live, and it is up to voters to decide which address they consider their home (e.g. a student may choose to enrol where they live during term time, or their parents' place if they go home during the holidays).[3] If a person owns property in which they do not live, they can also apply to be put onto the ratepayer roll for local elections. That is, an individual may be eligible to vote in more than one voting area for local elections.[2]
