Editorial: Why you should vote - or stand

A little orange man is about to step back into our lives.

Yes, it's nearing election time again.

This time we'll be asked to exercise our democratic vote on who should hold local office.

That's our Napier City, Hastings District, Central Hawke's Bay District, Wairoa District, Tararua District and Hawke's Bay Regional councillors, along with who sits on the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

However, before we can do that we must be enrolled to vote.

From today, enrolment update packs will be sent out to the country's 3.1 million enrolled voters.

It's important that all your details are up to date so you don't miss out on your chance to have your say.

Some may ask, why bother?

Well, this is your opportunity to choose who makes the decisions on our environment, local projects, parking, rates and health services.

For those thinking they want more of a say on how our communities are run - why not stand for election?

Many local councils are holding information meetings for potential candidates to outline the election process and answer candidates' questions.

Nominations for local election candidates open on July 15 and run until August 15. Anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and on the electoral roll.

As Myanmar's de facto leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi said: "Democracy is when the people keep the Government in check."