Despite a slow start - Auckland Council is now expecting voter turn out to beat the last local body elections in 2013.
LISTEN ABOVE:Â Local government Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga speaks to Andrew Dickens about poor voter turnout
Initial low voter turn out in some regions prompted the Electoral Commission to open up extra booths in malls for people to vote.
Auckland Council's Glyn Walters says the malls, along with council service centres will be accepting normal and special votes from those unregistered until 4pm today.
"Fingers crossed we'll get the upper 30s at least. I know that doesn't sound like a huge number but at least we've turned it around and sent it back in the other direction, which I am very happy about because the Council, the Electoral Commission and others put in a really big effort this election."
Mr Walters said after 4pm anyone who's registered can still drop their vote into a ballot box at any one of Auckland's 55 libraries until 12 pm Saturday.
Voter turn out is dipping well below previous years in Christchurch.
Returns are four per cent below 2013 and 10 per cent below the 2010 elections at this stage of the voting.
But Electoral Officer Jo Daly said instead of comparing to previous years they're simply focusing on getting as many votes in as possible at the last opportunities.
"I'm not sure what the final voter return will be but we're hoping for an increase."
She said it's not too late for voting if people make the trip as civic offices and some libraries are open today and tomorrow.
Special voting remains open to people who haven't received their papers.
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