By now ballot papers for this year's local body elections should have started to appear in letterboxes across the Coromandel.

If you're eligible to vote but haven't received your voting papers by Thursday, September 22, and want to have your say in this year's election contact the Electoral Office on 0800 922 822.

If you're eligible to vote in this year's local body elections but don't receive your ballot papers by Thursday, September 22, you'll need to contact the Electoral Office ASAP. File Photo.

All voting papers must be returned by post or to one of the ballot boxes setup at Thames-Coromandel District Council offices across the peninsula by 12pm on October 8.

'We've got 52 candidates vying to represent you as either mayor, councillor, or community board members,” says the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

'The mayor's seat, seven councillor seats in three wards and the 20 community board seats in our five community board areas are all contested.”

Only one candidate has been elected unopposed, Tony Brljevich, councillor for Coromandel-Colville. He was also elected unopposed in 2013.

In the 2013 local elections, voter turnout in the Thames-Coromandel District was 48 per cent, while the national average was 42 per cent for council races and 41 per cent for mayoral contests.

'Overall, voting turnout has been trending downwards in recent years. In 1989, turnout was 83 per cent in Thames-Coromandel District and in 1998 it was 87 per cent,” says council.

'But since then, it hasn't risen above 2010's 61 per cent.”

If you're not enrolled you can do it online, or get an enrolment form from any New Zealand Post Shop. If you enrol now, you will also need to contact the Electoral Office for a special vote.

To have your say, choose who you want to represent you and your community in the roles of mayor, councillors and community board members, fill in the voting papers and return them by post or by hand to one of council's offices. If you're posting your ballot papers, allow a few days for delivery.

If you're a resident of Thames-Coromandel District, to vote you need to be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll. You can check if you are enrolled by going to the Electoral Commission website.

If you own a property in the Coromandel but usually live somewhere else, you may still be able to vote in the local elections but will need to enrol on the Ratepayer Electoral Roll.

If you own more than one property, you may get more than one vote for councillors and community board members if your properties are in different wards or community board areas. Again, you'll need to check with the Electoral Office.

'You'll only get to vote for the mayor once though, no matter how many properties you own,” says council.

To check your enrolment visit the Electoral Commission website at www.elections.org.nz or to speak with someone at the Electoral Office call 0800-922-822.

To learn more about the candidates standing in this year's local body elections visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/nominations2016