Comments about disability are sparking controversy in Dunedin's heavily contested council elections.

Ten people are challenging Dave Cull for the mayoralty, including three councillors and several business people and activists.

Candidate Barry Timmings has been criticised for telling a disability forum he sometimes feels disabled as a 46-year-old white male accountant.

He's in turn criticised rival Lee Vandervis, for suggesting disabled council candidate Joshua Perry shouldn't stand.

Otago reporter Matiu Workman said the comments have divided opinion.

"Joshua Perry has cerebral palsy, and this has obviously been quite a controversial topic here in Dunedin."

The youngest mayoral candidate, Scout Barbour-Evans, made national news when Police knocked on their door ahead in January ahead of anti-TPP protests.

The 21-year-old is also one of the country's only transgender political candidates.

Meanwhile, high rates of early voting in some of Otago's other local elections may not result in high voter turn-out overall.

Bryan Cadogan will remain mayor of Clutha, where he's hit international headlines for his campaign for the small coal town of Kaitangata.

But the mayors and most of the councillors in Central Otago and Waitaki District face challengers for their jobs.

Matiu Workman said there has been some early interest in Queenstown Lakes District's election, where five people are standing to replace mayor Vanessa van Uden.

"There was quite a significant increase in the number of people who had voted in the first week of votes.

"However, there is still quite a lot of votes needed to break that 50% mark."

DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Scout Barbour-Evans
- Athol Bayne
- Dave Cull
- Rachel Elder
- Abe Gray
- Aaron Hawkins
- Jim O'Malley
- Conrad Stedman
- Barry Timmings
- Lee Vandervis
- Andrew Whiley

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- District at large – 43 candidates for 14 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- West Harbour Community Board – 12 candidates for 6 positions
- Otago Peninsula Community Board – 19 candidates for 6 positions
- Saddle Hill Community Board – 18 candidates for 6 positions
- Waikouaiti Coast Community Board – 8 candidates for 6 positions

CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Timothy Cadogan
- Anthony Bruce Lepper
- Martin Robinson McPherson

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Alexandra Ward – 7 candidates for 3 positions
- Cromwell Ward – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Earnscleugh-Manuherikia Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed
- Maniototo Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Teviot Valley Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Vincent Community Board, Alexandra Ward – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Vincent Community Board, Earnscleugh Manuherikia Ward – 3 candidates for 2 positions
- Cromwell Community Board – 7 candidates for 4 positions
- Maniototo Community Board – 4 candidates elected unopposed
- Teviot Valley Community Board – 5 candidates for 4 positions

CLUTHA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Bryan Cadogan has been elected mayor unopposed.

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Balclutha Ward – 7 candidates for 4 positions
- Bruce Ward – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Catlins Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Clinton Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Clutha Valley Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Kaitangata-Matau Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- West Otago Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- West Otago Community Board – 6 candidates elected unopposed
- Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board – 7 candidates for 6 positions

QUEENSTOWN-LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Jim Boult
- Lyal Cocks
- Al Angus
- John Mann
- Roger Tompkins

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward – 14 candidates for 6 positions
- Arrowtown Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Wanaka Ward – 5 candidates for 3 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Wanaka Community Board – 7 candidates for 4 positions

WAITAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Gary Kircher
- Stephen Wesselingh

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Ahuriri Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Corriedale Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed
- Oamaru Ward – 12 nomination for 6 positions
- Waihemo Ward – 3 candidates for 1 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Ahuriri Community Board – 5 candidates elected unopposed
- Waihemo Community Board – 6 candidates for 5 positions

OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL

Voters will select councillors in these constituencies:
- Dunedin Constituency – 10 candidates for 6 positions
- Dunstan Constituency – 5 candidates for 3 positions
- Moeraki Constituency – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Molyneux Constituency – 4 candidates for 2 positions

OTHER ELECTIONS

The following elections are also being held:
- Southern District Health Board – no elections
- Oamaru Licensing Trust – 8 candidates for 5 positions
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Balcutha ward – 4 candidates for 3 positions
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Tokomairiro ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Kaitangata ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Lawrence ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Owaka ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Clutha Licensing Trust, Clinton ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Clutha Health First – 7 candidates for 5 positions