Residents are being urged to pick up the pen and vote in the local body elections closing this Saturday, October 12.

Voter turnout is currently lower than previous elections with 24.65 per cent of the voting population having voted so far.

Tauranga City Council staff member Emma Hall places a vote in the ballot box.

This is almost matching the 24.77 per cent at the same time in the 2010 election, but down on the 30.39 per cent at the same time in the 2007 elections.

As of 9am on Wednesday, a total of 20,870 of electors had voted, out of a possible 84,672 of electors.

Bay of Plenty residents have only a few days left to vote to elect members to represent them on city, district and regional councils and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for the next three years.

Tauranga City Council democracy services manager Yvonne Tatton says postal votes for this year's election need to be mailed by Thursday to arrive before voting closes at midday on Saturday.

Anyone who is not enrolled to vote, has lost or not received voting papers, can still vote at the Tauranga City Council customer services desk in Willow Street up until midday on Saturday. Polling boxes are also available at the city library up until 11am October 12.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce is among the many organisations urging people to take a few minutes to vote with voter turnout.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce CEO Max Mason says households across the region have orange envelopes sitting unopened.

'Most people are intending to fill in their voting papers but haven't quite got around to it. They need to do urgently if they are to get them in on time.”

Max says typically it is young families who don't vote, 'but this is an election that will impact on their future”.

'There is a danger the new council split by those who say ‘no' to every new idea or initiative, and those who say ‘yes'. Yes to new ideas, more jobs, a better sense of our city's future and more opportunities for our children. But they won't get in unless people open their orange envelopes and tick the right boxes.”

'Do it [vote] now,” says Max.

In the Eastern Bay of Plenty Opotiki District Council chief executive Aileen Lawrie says residents need to exercise their democratic right in the same way they do for general elections – all the same considerations apply but at a local level.

'The impact of your vote is much more obvious in a small community, so your vote matters much more. There is no point forgetting to vote and complaining later that you haven't got the outcome you want.”

Aileen says there are many ways for the public to get information about candidates in their area.

All council websites have candidate information online.

'You can also visit: vote.co.nz, enter your postcode, and a list and details of candidates standing in your area will appear. Voting papers sent to registered voters also include candidate information.

For postal in the Eastern Bay voting, packs need to be posted by Wednesday, or else dropped off at designated locations.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chief executive Mary-Anne Macleod is adding her voice to the call to encourage people to vote before the weekend.

'The more people who vote mean more interests are represented on our councils and boards.

'It validates the decisions of our elected representatives and means that they genuinely represent the wider community. We need to give our councils a genuine mandate to act on our behalf.”

Mary-Anne says this is the last opportunity for three years for voters to decide who will represent them in a wide range of activities and functions across the region.

'The DHB makes important decisions on the provision of health services in our district. District councils are responsible for everything from rubbish, water, pools, events and activities, to public buildings, Civil Defence and dogs registrations.

'The regional council takes a long term view to guide and support the sustainable development of the Bay of Plenty, as caretakers of the Bay's land, air and water resources.”

Voting closes midday this Saturday, October 12.

You can deliver your vote in person or post it in the prepaid envelope supplied. For any questions about voting, call the Election Hotline, freephone 0508 440 0011.

If you haven't received your voting papers, you are still able to visit your local district council offices and cast a special vote.