Re: Council elections 2016. As the current round of tri-annual voting draws to a close there should be significant concern in many quarters about the low turnout, the trend of the last few elections continues.

The numbers voting has dropped consistently, the trend is unmistakable: in 2007 it was 46.36 per cent, 2010 it was 43.64 per cent, 2013 it was 37.78 per cent and 2016 looks to be even less, perhaps 33 per cent? At the time of writing only 20.88 per cent have voted, in 2013 it was 24.59 per cent. The numbers voting is collapsing rapidly. The trend is the same in Western Bay of Plenty distract also.

In the end result there must be reasons for it, perhaps they include: no internet-based voting, less effective inaction between ratepayers and council, lack of candidate choicen, o meaningful independent information about candidates, ratepayer feeling ignored so pointless, most voters are 60-plus years old, younger generations are ignoring elections, why?

For democracy to work properly and effectively it is essential the public generally participate, to do otherwise will simply leave Bureaucracies to free wheel and the results of that are unlikely to be good.

Why has the subject of internet-based voting not happened, it would very much change the dynamics of the election should that happen. It that what the establishment fears?

I Stevenson, Tauranga City.