Surge in voting with two days left

On Thursday, 41 per cent of eligible Masterton voters had submitted their voting papers, according to the Electionz.com website.

Voters seemed to be rushing to get their votes in with a surge in returns two days prior to the elections, the preliminary results of which will be announced today.

On Thursday, 41 per cent of eligible Masterton voters had submitted their voting papers, according to the Electionz.com website.

This time last week just 25.7 per cent of residents had voted. The latest returns were almost neck and neck with the corresponding time in the 2010 election, when 41.77 per cent of votes were in two days prior to the elections.

In South Wairarapa 40.10 per cent of residents had voted - down on 43.20 per cent in the last election.

Carterton residents weren't scrambling to vote, with just 36.87 per cent of votes in, compared with 45.51 per cent at the same time in 2010.

A phone poll conducted by Times-Age/Whitireia Journalism School earlier this week suggested incumbent Garry Daniell and challenger Lyn Patterson were neck and neck, with Mr Daniell slightly ahead at 38 per cent. Mrs Patterson polled at 37.4 per cent and challenger Gary Caffell was behind with 24.5 per cent, in the three-way contest.

This is the second time Mr Caffell has challenged incumbent Mr Daniell for mayoralty.

In the 2010 elections Mr Caffell was one of four challengers for the position. Mr Daniell received 3203 votes in the election and Mr Caffell received 1264.

People who have not voted still have time to have their say. Voting papers need to be handed in directly to council offices by midday today to be counted.

Declaration and public notice of results will be posted on October 17-23, athough voters can expect to see preliminary results from 3pm today.