A BLUNDER with election booklets has given up to 7000 people the impression that people from as far away as Nelson are seeking a spot on Tauranga City Council.
At least seven election directories delivered to Mount/Papamoa voters show Tasman Bay District Council hopefuls are vying for Tauranga council seats.
Mayor Jan Beange said today that up to 7000 of the 70,000 voters were believed to be affected by the mix-up.
"From what we can determine anywhere between 5 and 10 per cent have received the wrong candidate booklets."
Tauranga's electoral officer, Kevin Nally, said the council had received seven phone calls advising them that pages 10 to 24 and 56 to 66 of the directories contained Tasman rather than Tauranga candidates.
The booklets are printed by an Auckland company and give profiles of candidates. But the profiles of 46 local candidates running for mayor and wards and the health board are missing - to be replaced by 49 unfamiliar folk from down south.
Voting papers are not effected by the mix up.
Mr Nally said he did not know how widespread the problem was.
"Until I hear back from the printers, I can't even guess the extent of the problem or how the mistake occurred.
"It just so happens Tauranga City Council is close to the Tasman Bay District Council in terms of the alphabet".
Mr Nally said the council was making every effort to find out how the mix up occurred - but this has not eased tensions with some voters.
Concerned Mount Maunganui residents Ady and Jacqui van der Beek are two of the seven known to be effected by the mix up.
Mr van der Beek said he was concerned the goof could jeopardise the election process.
"A lot of people decide on how they will cast their vote by reading the candidate profiles in the booklet," he said. "But how can they if they aren't there ?
He was concerned there could be grounds for a re-election if a candidate missed out by a few votes.
Tasman District Council deputy electoral officer Sandra Hartley said there had been no reports of a similar problem there.
"As far as I am aware Tasman voters have not received candidate profiles for Tauranga city councillors."
Voters affected should contact the council for a replacement booklet.
Thousands of voters hit by election booklet blunder
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