Voter turnout for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is so far similar to voting numbers in the 2007 election.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Electoral Officer Cindy Butt says the average voting document return rate across the entire Bay of Plenty was at 38.24 per cent from Friday's count.

'At the close of voting in 2007 the average voting return across the Bay of Plenty was 44 per cent, and from returns received so far, I expect a similar return trend to occur this election,” says Cindy.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council's preliminary results are expected to be available late Saturday afternoon.

To be the first to know who has won in the Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council elections, visit SunLive on Saturday for extensive coverage.

As the results stream in, SunLive will write about, film and photograph the winners and losers from the election, publishing events live as they happen.