The polls have closed and the race is on for the Western Bay of Plenty mayoralty.

Voting closed at noon today for the country's local government elections after opening on September 21.

Western Bay of Plenty's incumbent mayor Garry Webber stepped down this election leaving the space open for a newcomer.

Webber retired after 12 years on council, serving two terms as mayor and two as a Kaimai Ward Councillor.

There are eight mayoral candidates vying for the top spot.

These are Suaree Borrell, Mark Boyle, James Denyer, Paul Haimona, Rodney Joyce, Hori BOP Leaming, John Scrimgeour and Don Thwaites.

Denyer, Scrimgeour and Thwaites are current councillors.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is made up of one mayor and 11 councillors.

Three councillors will be elected to the Katikati - Waihī Beach Ward, four will be elected to the Kaimai Ward and there are another four seats to be filled in Maketu - Te Puke Ward.

Each of the districts five community boards have four seats to be filled.

The community boards are Waihī Beach, Katikati, Ōmokoroa Te Puke and Maketu.

As of October 7, 31.9 per cent of eligible Western Bay of Plenty voters had cast their vote.

Progress for the Western Bay of Plenty elections, which is 95 per cent of the votes counted, are expected mid afternooon.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council progress results will be available from 3pm.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has 14 councillors, with 11 of these councillors elected from four general constituencies.

Tauranga voters will elect five councillors, while Rotorua, Western Bay of Plenty and Eastern Bay of Plenty will elect two councillors each.

Voters on the Māori roll elect one councillor from three Māori constituency areas – Kōhi, Mauao and Ōkurei.

Tauranga City Council is not having an election this year because the four government appointed commissioners will remain in place until July 2024.

SunLive will provide election updates as the preliminary results roll in.