Over the next two weeks, 160,000 voting papers will be arriving in the mailboxes of all enrolled voters in Wellington City for next month’s local Council election.
To make voting easier, as well as the postal option, there are more than 50 orange voting bins at Wellington supermarkets, Council libraries, and several other locations around the city.
This year, the Council is also required to run a binding poll to decide whether to keep or remove its Māori ward beyond 2028. Anyone who is enrolled to vote, whether on the Māori or general electoral roll, is eligible to vote in the poll, which will be included with your voting papers.
Council’s Deputy Electoral Officer, Jennifer Parker says everyone counts in a democracy, and every vote counts in an election.
“Wellington City Council is directly responsible for the provision of hundreds of services, activities, events, community support, and legislative facilitation – all of which impacts everyone on a day-to-day basis,” said Ms Parker.
“That’s everything from ensuring sports fields are operational and public toilets are clean, protecting our coast, reserves, and native manu, preparing our city in case of a significant event, managing all sorts of licences and implementing bylaws, and hosting and supporting hundreds of events from Gardens Magic to Matariki to Artsplash.
“Get curious, do some research, and have your say by voting to make a difference for you, your whānau, and your community – and choose a candidate who will advocate for you at the Council table.”
As well as the online candidate statements and videos, there will also be candidate booklets in accessible formats online and at the Election Hub at the Brandon Street Te Awe Library throughout the voting period.
The Electoral Commission website vote.nz also has information about enrolling and voting in alternate formats including braille, audio, large print and in different languages.
This election uses the Single Transferable Vote system (STV). Under STV, voters rank their preferred candidates by placing a ‘1’ in the box next to the candidate they most prefer, a ‘2’ beside the candidate they next prefer, and so on. You can rank as many or as few candidates as you like – you don’t have to rank them all. A detailed explanation of how STV works can be found at stv.govt.nz.
If residents haven’t received voting papers by 22 September, have lost or damaged them, aren’t enrolled or are on the unpublished electoral roll, they will need to cast a special vote. You can cast a special vote at the election hub at Te Awe Library, 29 Brandon Street during the voting period from 9 September until 12 noon on 11 October 2025.
The voting bin locations can be found on a handy map.
