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Civic Engagement

Voter turnout — local government elections

Voter turnout rates help to show how people feel about local government. This includes the confidence people have in their local authorities, the importance they attach to them, and whether they feel their participation in the voting process can make a difference.

This indicator presents the voter turnout (proportion of all eligible electors who cast a vote) by election year, by Territorial Authority, and for New Zealand Provincial and Metropolitan, for the local government elections from 2007 to 2019.

The figure shows a slight overall downward trend in greater Christchurch in voter turnout for local government elections over the time-series shown. The 2010 peak in voter turnout for Christchurch City (52%) now appears to have dissipated and turnout at that election is likely to have been influenced by the September 2010 earthquake, which preceded the delivery of voting papers by two weeks. In 2016, voter turnout in Christchurch City had fallen to below pre-earthquake levels, at 38 percent, increasing slightly to 42 percent in 2019 and increasing further to 43 percent in 2022.

Voter turnout in the Selwyn District remains relatively steady, declining slightly from 45 percent pre-earthquake, to 42 percent in 2019 and 2022. Voter turnout in the Waimakariri District was similar to Selwyn District in 2010 at 42 percent, dropping to 35 percent in 2013, followed by an increase to 45 percent in 2022.