Aucklanders will head to voting booths for the 2028 local elections, with Auckland Council voting to replace the traditional postal voting system with in-person voting similar to parliamentary elections.
Under the new model, staffed voting booths will operate during an advance voting period and on election day, with Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson saying the change is aimed at strengthening election integrity, improving accessibility and giving Aucklanders greater confidence their votes are securely received and recorded.
Cost, however, is shaping up as a major challenge. Initial estimates put a 10-day booth-based election at between $31 million and $40 million, compared with about $16 million for a postal election.
Councillors have asked staff to develop a model costing closer to $20 million, potentially using council employees and existing libraries and community facilities across the region. Staff are expected to report back in December, with final funding considered through Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan process.
The council also wants the Electoral Commission to eventually take responsibility for running local elections, rather than leaving Auckland ratepayers to carry the cost.
Online voting remains another possibility for the future, although council says security concerns mean it is not yet considered ready for implementation.
The shift represents one of the biggest changes to the way Aucklanders participate in local democracy, with the first test coming at the polls in 2028.
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