Strong voter turnout in Gore District

Gore District voters are showing up their southern counterparts when it comes to this year’s local body election.

Traditionally, the District has enjoyed strong voter participation, but 2025 is shaping up to be one for the record books.

As of Monday morning, 33.43% of people on the electoral roll had returned their voting papers. This compares with 30.30% in 2022 and 28.26% in 2019 at the same point in time.

The latest voting returns for neighbouring councils were Invercargill City Council 25.46% and Southland District Council 27.47%.

Deputy electoral officer Frances Shepherd urged voters not to be complacent.

“We’ve still got three and a half days until the polls close, so now is not the time to sit back.

“Even if you are happy with the status quo, it’s important to vote. As we know, every vote counts.”

In 2022, the Gore District mayoralty was decided by just eight votes.

This year, the Council has focused on making it easier for people to return their papers, with initiatives including:

• Visiting most of Gore’s rest homes with voting bins, which were very well received.
• Dropping into the Gore Senior Citizens clubrooms during its popular weekly Thursday lunch.
• Attending a local bowling club tournament.
• Hosting drop-in sessions at the Gore and Mataura libraries.
• Drive-thru voting paper drop-off in the Council’s Fairfield Street carpark.

This year was also the first time the Council has had orange voting bins for the local body elections. Bins were positioned at eight locations in Gore and Mataura.

Mrs Shepherd thanked the businesses that had bins in their shops - “they certainly helped spread the drop off options and increase voter turnout”.

There will be a drop-in for special voting at the Gore Library this evening between 5:00pm and 7:00pm (Wednesday 8 October).

The Council will also be repeating its drive-thru voting drop-off this Saturday from 9:00am until 12:00 noon, following a positive response to its first one. The Council’s main office will also be open from 9:00am until noon for anyone who needs to cast a special vote.

“The key this year has been getting out with the voting bins to where the people are, not expecting them to come to us,” Mrs Shepherd said.

She added that strong competition for district-wide and Gore ward seats, as well as the mayoralty, has also boosted voter interest.

Voting closes at 12 noon this Saturday.

Progress results will be released from 2:00pm onwards, on Saturday, on the Council’s website www.goredc.govt.nz, Facebook page, and electionz.com.