With just a day to go, this is the state of affairs in the main centres.

A week ago, there were reports of voter turnout being “significantly up” on 2022. This appears to have been overly optimistic: the voting period was increased from the 22 days of the last election to 32 days this year, and that’s made comparison with previous years something of a fool’s errand.

Now we’re a day out from voting closing, the turnout signs are all clearly pointing in one direction: pretty shite.

Auckland is heading comfortably towards a record-low turnout, with 21.9% of ballots returned as of the afternoon of Thursday, October 8, down from 26.6% in 2022.

A week ago, Wellington was tracking significantly higher than previous years, but it’s now on a par with 2022: 30.4%. On the upside, turnout looks set to beat 2019’s record-low final turnout of just under 40%.

As for Christchurch, surprise, it’s bad: 30.6% as of Thursday afternoon, heading swiftly towards a record low.

Maybe Hamilton will save the day? Doesn’t look like it: turnout was at 23% as of Thursday afternoon, very close to what it was at a similar point in 2022, when the final figure didn’t even make it to 30%.

Surely the good folk of Dunedin will come to the party? No sir: by Thursday afternoon turnout was sitting at 26.2%, well down on the past three elections, when turnout was in the late 30s by this point.

Is there any good news? At a quick glance, turnout is looking likely to be not totally rock bottom (ie not the lowest ever recorded) in the Far North, Kaipara, Matamata-Piako, Stratford, Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Ruapehu, Taupō, Whanganui, Upper Hutt, Buller,  Mackenzie and Gore. Yay?

If you haven’t voted yet, there’s still time! Watch Robbie Nicol below to find out where and how. And if you’re wondering why you should bother, read Hayden Donnell’s not-at-all-desperate plea here.