Editorial: Make sure you cast your vote

Make your vote count.

If you have not voted in the amalgamation referendum, then you had better hurry up as time is running out.

Although the poll only closes at noon next Tuesday, Warwick Lampp, the chief electoral officer, says that if you are posting your vote in, you need to have it in the post by tomorrow.

This is to ensure that your vote gets to Electionz.com's offices in Christchurch in time to be counted.

While it is important for people to vote as soon as possible, you will still be able to vote up until noon next Tuesday. You simply need to get to your council office and drop it off during office hours.

It is good to see our councils opening their offices over the weekend to allow people to vote as well.

The offices of the Napier City Council, the Wairoa District Council and the Central Hawke's Bay District Council will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9am-1pm, while the Hastings District Council will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

This is a great service from our councils as it is important that as many people as possible get to vote. As has been said before, you cannot complain about the way the vote went if you did not bother voting. Every vote counts and you are contributing to the democratic process by ticking a box.

It is not my place to tell you how to vote, but I will encourage you to vote.

The whole amalgamation process has been quite divisive and many people have very firm views on what they believe is best for our province.

Hopefully when the people have decided, we will put aside the differences and work together, whether or not amalgamation goes through.