City councillors are being asked to clarify an election signs issue raised by SunLive last week when candidates complained about discrepancies in the council rules.

Today's Strategy and Policy Committee is being asked to specifically exclude elections signs in or on vehicles because of a grey area the council introduced when it changed the local elections policy in 2011.

City Council candidates Mike Baker and Gail McIntosh.

The bylaw change prevents City Council candidates putting up election signs, hoardings or placards more than a month before polling day – but there is no reference to elections signs on vehicles.

Candidates have gone ahead anyway, while council staff say vehicle signs are election signs and cannot be displayed until September 14.

Candidates Mike Baker and Gail McIntosh say the reduced advertising period gives council candidates only six days before postal ballots are posted out on September 20.

Mike, who was cautioned by TCC deputy electoral officer Yvonne Tatton for sign-writing his car to promote his candidacy, says the council's rule on election sign timing does not encourage people to vote, or let them know who is standing.

'The concern I have is only 43 per cent of Tauranga City voters voted in the last election,” says Mike.

'If we don't get the message out, that there is an election on, there is every likelihood the number of voters this election will be lower. And 43 people out of 100 is pretty appalling return in itself.”

Gail McIntosh assumed September 14 was a misprint.

'I know voting papers come out on September 20, and it does not seem logical that I can only put a hoarding up – whether it's on my car or a big static hoarding – for six days before the first people start voting,” says Gail.

'I've put ‘Tauranga City Council' and ‘Vote for Gail McIntosh' on my car, which is the obvious thing to do.”

Election hoardings are up in the Western Bay of Plenty District, Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland. Gail says it's unfair.

'And you've got to ask yourself why less people are standing for the election this time, and why less women are standing – they already think the process is undemocratic and it's a big cost to get these big signs up.

'Now, with only six days before voting papers go out, I'm not even going to put a hoarding up. If they stick to the 14th of September – it cannot be worth it.”

The Strategy and Policy Committee meeting is at 9am.