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If you enrolled prior to 1 August 2025, your voting papers will be sent from 9 September.
Votes must be returned by 12 noon Saturday, 11 October 2025 (if putting your vote in the mail, please make sure you allow time for it to get to us).
You can post your voting paper in or place them into one of the Council’s secure ballot boxes — located in public locations, such as libraries, across Otago.
You can vote in the local elections if you are on the electoral roll and live in the Otago region.
If you live outside the Otago region but own property here, you can also vote.
Make sure you are properly enrolled for Otago — this is really important if you have only recently moved here (students, this means you too!)
By voting in your local body elections, you have your say on who will make decisions on Otago's future for the next three years.
Otago Regional Council is responsible for promoting the economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing of the region.
Our work covers all of Otago and our focus is on the environment and natural resources:
- setting policies and rules to protect Otago’s water, land and air resources
- monitoring the environment – collecting data and knowledge to inform decision making
- responding to environmental incidents
- taking a lead role in pest management
- taking an active role in minimising risks from natural hazards
- keeping you safe along our coast and on our lakes and rivers through our Harbourmaster function
- civil Defence Emergency Management
- providing public transport in Dunedin and Queenstown (Orbus)
- providing support to community groups for environmental enhancement
- taking a lead role in responding to issues that affect Otago, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and urban development.
- Have you received your voting forms in the mail?
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- Yes: follow the instructions (for ORC you will rank the candidates, putting 1 for your favourite), then pop in the post before deadline, or find your voting location and pop in a ballot box
- No: check if you're on the electoral roll. Whether you are or not, if it's after mid-September you will need to complete a 'special vote'.
- After votes have closed progress results will be available on electionz.com. It may take several days for the official results to be confirmed.
Voting in Otago Regional Council elections
28 August 2025
Talking Otago with ORC on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin
Listen to Amanda Vercoe, General Manager Strategy and Customer and Deputy CEO, outlining the process for voting in this year's local body elections.
Candidates have given information about who they are, what they stand for and why they think you should vote for them.
This information is on the candidate profile page.
They also attend different 'meet the candidate' events and interviews on local radio stations.
Once you've read the profiles, worked out who you want to rank #1, you're ready to vote!
A regular voting form is preprinted to ensure your vote is anonymous without duplication. While a special vote requires you to fill out a declaration confirming you are legally able to vote and are only making one vote.
Some of the reasons people need to put in a special vote include:
- you were not on the Parliamentary Roll before 1 August 2025
- you are away during the voting period
- you are on the Unpublished Roll
- you haven’t received your voting papers by 19 September 2025
- you spoil your voting paper and cannot make your voting intention clear
You can apply for and submit a special vote once voting opens, you don't need to wait until election day.
If you need to make a special vote, you will need to go to a district council (listed under special voting locations), fill out the declaration form, then complete your voting form. You can then post your vote in the mail or put it into an authorised ballot box.
Special votes
Special votes can be made in person at the DCC’s Plaza Meeting Room, Ground floor of the Civic Centre in The Octagon.
- 8.30am to 5pm daily, 9 September to 10 October 2025
- 8.30am to noon, Saturday, 11 October 2025
| Voting at site closes | Site name | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | Noon | Dunedin City Council | 50 The Octagon |
Ballot boxes / orange bins
DCC service centre
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | DCC Civic Centre | 50 The Octagon, Dunedin |
All branches of the Dunedin Public Library
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Waikouaiti Community Library | 192 Main Road, Waikouaiti 9510 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Blueskin Bay Public Library | 28 Harvey Street, Waitati 9085 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Port Chalmers Library | Cnr Beach and Grey Street, Port Chalmers, Dunedin 9023 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Bookbuses | |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | Mosgiel Library | 7 Hartstonge Avenue, Mosgiel 9024 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | Dunedin City Library | 110 Moray Place, Dunedin 9054 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | South Dunedin Library | 148 King Edward Street, South Dunedin |
Other locations
| Voting at sie closes | Time | Site | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 10 October | Noon | New World Mosgiel | 10 Hartstonge Avenue, Mosgiel 9024 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Woolworths Mosgiel | 55 Gordon Road, Mosgiel 9024 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Woolworths Mornington | 43 Mailer Street, Dunedin Otago 9011 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin | 350 Andersons Bay Road, South Dunedin, Dunedin 9012 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Edgar Centre | 116 Portmouth Drive, Anderson Bay, Dunedin 9012 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Larsons Pharmacy | 216 Main South Road, Green Island, Dunedin 9018 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Otago Polytechnic | Forth Street, Dunedin |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Cafe Maggies | 16 Aberafon Street, Middlemarch 9597 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Dunedin Hospital | 201 Great King Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Otago University - Café Albany | The Link - 660 Cumberland Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Otago University - St David Theatre West Side | Saint David Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9016 |
| Fri 10 October | Noon | Middlemarch Postal Agency | 19 Swansea Street, Middlemarch 9597 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | New World Gardens | 6 North Road, North East Valley, Dunedin 9010 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | New World Central City | 133 Great King Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | Woolworths Dunedin Central | 309 Cumberland Street, Dunedin 9016 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | PaknSave | 86 Hillside Road, South Dunedin, Dunedin 9012 |
| Sat 11 October | Noon | Countdown Dunedin South | 323 Andersons Bay Road, Dunedin 9012 |
Special votes
Special votes can be made in person during normal business hours from 9 September:
| Voting at site closes | Site name | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 10 October | 5 pm | Cromwell Service Centre | 43 The Mall, Cromwell |
| Fri 10 October | 5 pm | Ranfurly Service Centre | 15 Pery Street, Ranfurly |
| Fri 10 October | 5 pm | Roxburgh Service Centre | 120 Scotland Street, Roxburgh 9500 |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Alexandra Council Office | William Fraser Building, 1 Dunorling Street, Alexandra |
Ballot boxes / orange bins
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Alexandra Service Centre | William Fraser Building, 1 Dunorling Street, Alexandra |
| Alexandra Library | 43 Tarbert Street, Alexandra | ||
| Alexandra New World | 89 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra | ||
| Alexandra Woolworths | 106 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra | ||
| Cromwell Service Centre | 42 The Mall, Cromwell | ||
| Cromwell Library | 43 The Mall, Cromwell | ||
| Cromwell New World | 2 Murray Terrace, Cromwell | ||
| Cromwell Fresh Choice | 3/1 Iles Street, Cromwell | ||
| Ranfurly Service Centre | 15 Pery Street, Ranfurly | ||
| Ranfurly Library | 15 Caulfield Street, Ranfurly | ||
| Maniototo Four Square | 1/3 Pery Street, Maniototo, Ranfurly | ||
| Roxburgh Service Centre and Library | 120 Scotland Street, Roxburgh | ||
| Roxburgh Fresh Choice | 93 Scotland Street, Roxburgh | ||
Special votes can be made in person during normal business hours from 9 September to 10 October at both Queenstown or Wānaka offices. The Queenstown office will be open 8am until noon on Saturday 11 October.
Special votes
| Voting at site closes | Site name | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Queenstown office | 10 Gorge Road |
| Fri 10 October | 5 pm | Wānaka office | 47 Ardmore St |
Ballot boxes / orange bins
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October |
New World Wakatipu |
12 Hawthorne Drive, Queenstown 9300 | |
| Sat 11 October |
Pak ‘n’ Save Queenstown |
302 Hawthorne Drive, Queenstown | |
Special votes
You can get special voting documents and put in your completed voting documents from Friday 9 September to noon Saturday 11 October.
On Election Day ordinary votes can be returned, and special votes issued and returned, from 9am to noon at:
| Voting at site closes | Site name | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Clutha District Council | 1 Rosebank Terrace, Balclutha |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Balclutha Community Library | 23 John Street, Balclutha |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Lawrence Community Library | 5 Peel Street, Lawrence |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Milton Community Library | 124-126 Union Street, Milton |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Owaka Community Library | 10 Campbell Street, Owaka |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Tapanui Community Library | Suffolk Street, Tapanui |
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | TPŌMA - Clutha isite Visitor Centre | 6 Clyde Street, Balclutha |
Ballot boxes / orange bins
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Clutha District Council | 1 Rosebank Terrace, Balclutha |
| Balclutha Community Library | 23 John Street, Balclutha | ||
| Lawrence Community Library | 5 Peel Street, Lawrence | ||
| Milton Community Library | 124-126 Union Street, Milton | ||
| Owaka Community Library | 10 Campbell Street, Owaka | ||
| Tapanui Community Library | 1 Suffolk Street, Tapanui | ||
| TPŌMA - Clutha isite Visitor Centre | 6 Clyde Street, Balclutha | ||
| New World Balclutha | 9 Lanark Street, Balclutha | ||
| Rosebank Four Square | 80 Clyde Street, Balclutha | ||
| Tokomairiro Four Square | 207 Union Street, Milton | ||
| Owaka Four Square | 3 Ovenden Street, Owaka | ||
| Lawrence Four Square | 19 Ross Place, Lawrence | ||
| Tapanui Four Square | 4 Northumberland Street, Tapanui | ||
| SuperValue Milton | 59 Union Street, Milton | ||
| Food for Thought Clinton | 10 Main Road, Clinton | ||
| The Warehouse Balclutha | cnr George & Charlotte Streets, Balclutha | ||
Special votes
You can get special voting documents and put in your completed voting documents from Friday 9 September to noon Saturday 11 October:
| Voting at site closes | Site name | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Waitaki District Council main office | 20 Thames Street, Ōamaru |
Ballot boxes / orange bins
| Voting at site closes | Site | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 11 October | 12 noon | Waihemo Service Centre | 54 Tiverton Street, Palmerston |
| Hampden Night ‘n Day | 31 London Street, Hampden | ||
| Waitaki District Council | 20 Thames Street, Ōamaru | ||
| Ōamaru Library & Council Service Centre | 62 Thames Street, Ōamaru | ||
| Woolworths | 108-116 Thames Street, Ōamaru | ||
| New World Waitaki | 402 Thames Highway, Ōamaru | ||
| Kurow Museum and Information Centre | 57 Bledisloe Street, Kurow | ||
| Vanished World Centre | 7 Campbell Street, Duntroon | ||
| Ōmārama – Oasis Bar & Café | 4 Chain Hills Highway, Ōmārama | ||
Ballots may also be posted from any NZ Post Post Box located across the region.
For help finding your nearest Post Box, use the NZ Post locator.
Please make sure you allow time for the post to get to us.
Voters rank candidates in order of preference. Under STV, you would write “1” next to the name of your favourite candidate, “2” next to your second favourite candidate and so on until you have ranked your preferences. You do not need to rank all candidates, just those you prefer most.
You still only have one vote, but by showing your preference for candidates, your vote can be transferred if your most preferred candidate is so popular, they don’t need all their votes to cross the election threshold or is not popular with other voters.
In an STV election, candidates must reach a certain number of votes to get elected. This is called a quota and is based on the total number of votes and the number of vacant positions.
