Find out who to vote for by using the Vote Auckland online candidate catalogue.

The candidate catalogue helps voters learn which ward and local board areas they are voting in and who is standing for their area. It’s like a “yellow pages” of elections candidates with individual information that includes their policies and priorities for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Best of all, candidates have supplied their own short statements for the catalogue so voters can get a real flavour about them and their aspirations, if elected, for the next three years.

Auckland Council’s General Manager Governance and Engagement, Lou-Ann Ballantyne believes this catalogue will be a great help to voters.

“Take a few minutes to learn a bit about who the candidates are, and which ones deserve your vote. Because if you don’t vote, someone else will choose who represents you and your area.”

“We’ve often heard people say they don’t vote because they don’t know who any of these people are,” says Ms Ballantyne.

“Elected members are important people in our community and region, but they may not have the same instant recognition as TV or movie stars. That aside, your vote could make a difference to the way local decisions are made about your area’s busy library, pools and leisure centres, parks and sports fields, public transport, infrastructure, and much more,” she says.

“Remember, it’s not just about voting for the mayor. Decisions for Tāmaki Makaurau are made by the council’s Governing Body, that’s the mayor and 20 councillors, and our 21 local boards.”

Find out more about the responsibilities of the mayor, ward councillors and local board members.

Here’s how you can easily find out who you might vote for:

1. Visit voteauckland.co.nz/en/information-for-voters/candidates.html
2. If you know your ward and local board area, click on it to view the candidates and their profiles. Or enter your home address to see the candidates you can vote for.
3. Filter your search by looking at candidates for each position: mayoral, ward councillor, local board member and licensing trust.
4. Filters are also available by topics, such as: transport, natural environment and more, so you can compare and contrast candidates by their priorities.

Once you have an idea of who you might ‘swipe right’ for, all you need to do is sit back and wait for your voting papers to arrive between 9 – 22 September. Tick the names of the people you think can best represent you, pop your paper into the return envelope and drop your vote at your nearest vote box.

You will find all vote box locations mapped out at: voteauckland.co.nz/wheretovote

No papers? No problem!

If your papers don’t arrive, pop into select libraries across the region, or a Vote-on-the-Go where you can enrol and cast a special vote on the spot. Vote-on-the-Gos will be held at markets, community centres, universities, marae and many other locations. You can find all the details also at: voteauckand.co.nz/wheretovote

Read this and other stories on OurAuckland

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Linh Tra

Senior Specialist Publicity and Communications – Elections

021 532 421

linh.tra@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz