Election day is just around the corner and there’s still plenty of time to get ready to vote, whether you’re registered already or not. 

There are also a number of voting stations across the Upper Clutha, including plenty of places where voting early is possible for anyone who won’t be able to make it to a voting station next Saturday (October 14).

Voting polls officially opened on Monday (October 2) and candidates have been urging community members to get prepared and head out and vote.

National Party leader Chris Luxon has cast an advanced vote from Auckland while Chris Hipkins, isolating with Covid-19, has encouraged the public to get out and vote, as have Waitaki electorate candidates. 

Find out more about the Waitaki candidates and where they stand on the big local issues, including housing and renting, cost of living and the future of tourism, in an interview with the Wānaka App here.

As well as seven local voting booths open on election day, there are options for casting your vote early.

If you’re not registered to vote, it’s not too late, and if you’re not sure if you’re registered, it’s easy to check. 

Check your eligibility here and confirm whether you’re enrolled here. If you’re not yet enrolled, you can enrol when you vote, with a bit of extra paperwork on the day.

This means you will be casting a ‘special vote’.

If you’re already registered, you just need to take your EasyVote card along to any voting booth - no drivers license, passport or other ID necessary. 

As for Voting Locations in the Upper Clutha, on election day you can vote at all of the following places: Lake Hāwea Community Centre, Luggate Hall, Tarras Primary School, Lake Wānaka Centre, Presbyterian Community Church, Te Kura o Take Karara, and Wānaka Primary School. 

All the voting locations will be open from 9am-7pm on the day.

There are also plenty of options for early voting over the next week and a half. 

Early voting is available at the Lake Wānaka Centre every day right up until election day.

People can vote at the Lake Wānaka Centre between 10am-5pm from today (Thursday October 5) until Sunday (October 8); 10am-6pm next Monday and Tuesday (October 9 and 10); 9am-6pm next Wednesday and Thursday (October 11 and 12); and 9am-4pm next Friday (October 13).

There will also be early voting at Te Kura o Take Karara this Saturday and Sunday (October 7-8) from 10am-6pm and at Makarora School next Tuesday (October 10).

If you’re unable to get to a voting booth for any reason, there are still ways to get your vote counted. Find them here.

If you’re stuck on which party to vote for, the Vote Compass tool (developed by political scientists) can help you explore how your views align with the different political parties.

The vote count will begin on election day, when the advance votes are counted, while the official count begins on Monday (October 16). 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App