7 Oct 2010

Extended voting period wanted

9:04 am on 7 October 2010

An Auckland super city candidate wants postal voting to be extended by a week because of problems with the delivery of voting papers.

Electoral officer Dale Ofsoske is setting up a special polling booth in Mangere East because voting papers were not delivered to some streets in south Auckland.

Waina Emery, who is standing in the Papakura-Manurewa ward, says her door knocking in the heavily-Maori ward indicates the problem is widespread.

She wants special booths set up across south Auckland and the voting period extended.

She told Waatea News that this is "a way of getting it sorted and giving the public confidence".

She said it's about "fairness" for people.

Ms Emery said that unless action is taken so everyone gets the opportunity to vote, the results were likely to be challenged through the courts.