Paper versus electronic is a debate Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby hopes to argue if re-elected.
Thousands of voting papers were mailed out to ratepayers this month at an unnecessary cost, says Stuart, who notes it is extraordinary that in today's information and electronic environment we are still constrained to using pieces of paper to cast a vote.

"Every minute millions of dollars are safely transferred around New Zealand as well as masses of private and confidential information."
Electronic voting papers could attract more voters as well as save money.
"Younger people in particular use electronic forms of communication as their first preference and I believe that if these options are available for voting then there will be a larger percentage of people exercising their democratic right.
"Those that choose to exercise their vote at elections for councils and health boards will continue to decline unless the Local Electoral Act is changed to allow various forms of electronic and telephone voting."
Stuart says the corporate sector often uses online voting for decisions that require stakeholder approval in a safe and confidential environment.
"There has been tremendous advance in this area and pleas from returning officers in the past to allow new forms of voting in council and health board elections have fallen on deaf ears."
Stuart says if re-elected he intends to follow up this issue to change the Local Electoral Act or any other piece of legislation to allow new media options for voting.