I've got my voting papers, what do I do now?

Here's when you decide who to give your vote to.

Everyone in the Eastern Ward of Hamilton gets to vote for one councillor to represent that area.

Hamilton City Council uses the First Past the Post voting system. This means you tick the name of the candidates you want to vote for. At the next full Local Government election in 2022, we will use the STV voting system. 

Check out our Candidates page once nominations open for more information about who is standing for the East Ward. 

To return your voting papers in time to be counted, you’ll need to get them in the post by Thursday 12 August. After that date, you can drop them off at Hamilton City Council in Garden Place or at any Hamilton City Libraries community branch (Glenview, St Andrews, Dinsdale, Hillcrest, Chartwell) until 12pm on Wednesday 18 August.

Special votes

Special votes are available if:

• your name does not appear on the final electoral roll (e.g. you didn't enrol before 16 August), but you qualify as an elector 
• you did not receive a voting pack that has been posted to you
• you have a spoilt or damaged voting pack that was posted to you.
  
  

Special votes can be made until 12pm on Wednesday 18 August, at:

• the Elections Office, Municipal Building, Garden Place, Hamilton
• any Hamilton City Libraries community branch (Hillcrest, Chartwell)
• by telephoning the electoral office on 0800 922 822.

Special votes require the completion of a statutory declaration. This is a legal requirement and a protection for electors against possible duplicate voting.

We want as many of you to vote as possible, so if you need a hand to complete your voting papers, we’ve got people who can do that. Drop in to the Hamilton City Council building in Garden Place anytime during the voting period, or email elections@hcc.govt.nz.