Final voting numbers are out: the system needs to change – LGNZ

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) says the final voter turnout for local elections has increased, after an unprecedented number of votes were cast on election day.

The final turnout number for the 2025 local elections has increased to 39.4% after the counting of special votes. This is a similar turnout to the 2022 local elections.

LGNZ Interim Chief Executive Scott Necklen says it’s clear voting habits are shifting, and the system needs to change to accommodate this.

“We saw more people cast their ballots 10 days prior to election day, followed by a voting lull until election day itself — when almost 15% of all ballots were cast into the orange bins,” says Scott Necklen.

“That’s a significant volume for election day, and further evidence that providing convenient drop-off points makes it easier for people to vote. It also helped that councils had more orange bins (over 1,500) out in the community than ever before.

“The in-person orange bins are closer in format to the voting booth system that LGNZ has been championing. This was one of 20 recommendations made by the Electoral Reform Working Group (ERWG) in its Final Position paper in July to help increase voter turnout.

“New Zealand can no longer continue with the postal voting model. Moving to consistent, in-person polling booth voting for local elections — along with introducing a two-week timeframe to vote — would ensure the future integrity of our voting system, by replicating how parliamentary elections are run.

“We recently met with the Government to discuss the proposed changes, with a focus on implementing these in time for the 2028 election. This included the Electoral Commission running future local elections, which the Prime Minister has said he is open to.

“It's vital we do whatever it takes to lift voter turnout and restore confidence in local democracy, as council decisions impact all parts of our lives; from roads and rubbish and footpaths to water quality, flood resilience, community facilities and events.”

Final voter turnout results (nationwide) as at 19 October 2025):

• Final voter turnout (nationwide): 39.42%
• This represents 1,365,215 votes received from 3,463,278 eligible voters, including 34,793 special votes
• 185,078 ballots were submitted on election day, which is 14.1% of all votes received
• Chatham Islands (68.34%), Kaikoura (60.85%) and Mackenzie District (60.43%) recorded the highest voter turnout numbers
• Auckland City (29.33%), Hamilton City (32.97%) and Waikato District (35.03%) recorded the lowest voter turnout numbers.