Voting system for the 2028 Local Government Election

Ruapehu District Council will use the Single Transferable Vote system at the 2028 Local Government Election. If you would prefer Council used a different system, you and other electors can ask for a poll to change it. This page explains both systems and how to make that request.

Public notice of the right to demand a poll on the electoral voting system

What system will be used

Council decided in August 2023 to keep the Single Transferable Vote system for both the 2025 and the 2028 elections. Nobody asked for a poll at the time, so that decision stands. Single Transferable Vote has been used in Ruapehu since 2019.

Council is not proposing to change the system. We are letting you know because the law requires us to tell you about your right to ask for a poll, whether or not anything is changing.

How Single Transferable Vote works

You rank the candidates in the order you prefer them. Write 1 beside your favourite, 2 beside your next favourite, and so on. You can rank as many or as few candidates as you like.

To be elected, a candidate needs to reach a set share of the votes. If your first choice has more votes than they need, or is not going to be elected, your vote moves to your next choice instead. This keeps happening until all the positions are filled.

The main advantage is that fewer votes go to waste. Even if your first choice misses out, your later choices still count. The main disadvantage is that the counting is more complicated and takes longer, and a computer does it rather than a person.

If you would like to see how a Single Transferable Vote count actually works, our election provider has a short online demonstration you can try: www.electionz.com/STV5

How First Past the Post works

You tick the candidates you want. If there are five positions to fill, you can tick up to five names. The candidates with the most ticks win.

The main advantage is that it is simple and quick to count. The main disadvantage is that it does not always reflect the range of views across a community. A candidate can win without most voters having chosen them, and if several similar candidates split the same group of support, that group can end up with nobody elected.

Your right to ask for a poll

You do not have to accept Council's decision. If enough electors ask for a poll, the community decides the voting system, not Council. The result of a poll is binding.

At least 418 electors need to sign the request. That is five per cent of the 8,344 electors enrolled for the 2025 election.

You can sign if you are enrolled to vote in Ruapehu District, either as a residential elector or a ratepayer elector. You can also sign if you are on the parliamentary roll at an address in the district.

What a valid request needs

The law is strict about this, so please check each point before you deliver your request.

It must be in writing.
It must be signed by at least 418 electors.
Each person must write their name and the address they are enrolled at, next to their signature.
It must be delivered to Ruapehu District Council's main office at 59-63 Huia Street, Taumarunui.

What a poll would cost

A poll on its own is estimated to cost around $60,000. This is not in Council's budget, so it would be an additional cost to ratepayers. We mention it so you have the full picture, not to discourage you from exercising your right.

Key dates

Date	What happens
Saturday 19 September 2026	Public notice of your right to ask for a poll
Friday 11 December 2026	Last day to deliver a request that would apply to the 2028 election
Sunday 28 March 2027	Last day a poll could be held and still apply to 2028
Saturday 14 October 2028	Election day

If a request arrives after 11 December 2026 it still counts, but the poll would be held later and the result would apply to the 2031 and 2034 elections instead of 2028.