By Deanna Harris
With just days until the first super mayor is named, Aucklanders are making sure they are heard.
Voter turnout is higher than previous years, with 24.8 percent of voting papers already returned – up from 19.2 percent at the same stage last election.
According to Auckland Council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske the highest voter turnout so far has been Great Barrier Island with a 41.1 percent, followed by Waiheke on 34.8 percent.
The lowest so far is Kaipatiki on 19.7 percent.
"If Aucklanders want their vote to count, they should put their voting documents in the orange return envelope and post it by Wednesday," says Mr Ofsoske.
"After that, they should hand deliver their voting documents if they want to have their say on Auckland's future direction."
A total of 545 nominations were received for 170 vacancies at Auckland Council; 23 mayoral candidates, 102 council candidates and 420 local board candidates.
In the Auckland Council, there will be one mayor, 20 councillors representing 13 wards, and 149 local board members representing 21 local board areas.
The mayoral race took a turn yesterday with two polls showing Len Brown well in front of John Banks.
The latest Horizon Poll tracking survey shows the number expecting Mr Brown to win has increased by 8 percent in the past week, with 42 percent now thinking he will win and 18 percent expecting Mr Banks to be Mayor.
The poll also shows Mr Brown’s lead over Mr Banks has increased from 27 percent to 32 percent among those who have already voted.
The lead is greater among those who are yet to vote, 40 percent are for Mr Brown compared to Mr Banks with 18 percent.
The poll of 307 who had already voted has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percent. The poll of 356 who have yet to vote had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.2 percent.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown had 56 percent support in a Herald on Sunday-Phoenix Poll of 893 Aucklanders who had already voted or said they would definitely or probably vote.
Mr Banks had 33 percent support - but he said his own polling showed the vote was close.
The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.
Auckland Council preliminary results are expected to be announced on Saturday.
The official results will be announced when special votes have been checked, in the following week.
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