With voting packs for local elections arriving in mailboxes from tomorrow (Friday 16 September), all people need to remember is a simple three-step process: Vote, pack and post.

When your pack arrives, read the instructions carefully and complete your voting document. Pack it back into the supplied orange envelope and put it in the post before 4 October to ensure it arrives before the noon deadline on 8 October.

You can also return your completed voting documents to the orange ballot boxes at the Ashburton Public Library, Methven iHub or Ashburton District Council administration building right up until voting closes at noon on 8 October.

If you forgot to enrol or your voting papers haven’t arrived by the middle of next week, you may still be able to cast a special vote – but this can only be done at the Ashburton District Council office during business hours.

Candidate profiles will be included with the packs, but are also available at voteashburton.nz, along with information about special voting.

Meet the candidates meetings have been organised by the Rakaia Community Association at 7.30pm on Thursday 22 September at the Rakaia Memorial Hall, and by Greypower at the Ashburton Seniors Centre on Monday 19 September, at 2pm.

Once voting starts, daily vote returns will be available from electionz.com. Preliminary results are expected somewhere around 1pm on 8 October.

The first meeting of the inaugural Council has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday 27 October, at 1.30pm, when councillors and Methven Community Board members will be sworn in.