Editorial: Get voting - it's too important

What's the hold-up?

The turnout for the local elections so far this year is abysmal.

At the end of the elections three years ago only 43 per cent of people voted and we all threw our hands up in disgust.

Today, we are lagging behind those results just as bad, if not worst.

What more can we do? Why aren't you voting? Why don't you care?

In an effort to drive more people to tick the boxes, this newspaper has done all it can to promote the elections.

Part of that included hitting the streets to ask people if they have voted yet.

The responses, published in Saturday's paper, were interesting.

Some said the candidates didn't appeal to the younger generation, some weren't sure they were enrolled, some were too busy and others admitted they just weren't interested.

There are so many big issues facing our city - debt, future growth and empty shops in our CBD just to name a few.

The new leaders of our city need a strong mandate and that has to come from us.
Please Rotorua, this is too important.

Today was the last day to post the voting papers, but it's still not too late. You can hand-deliver them to the council by midday on Saturday.

There will also be ballot boxes you can drop them into on Saturday morning in the City Focus and the Rotorua Public Library.

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain or judge.