Those wanting to stand up and be counted can make it official from today.

Candidate nominations, including those for Invercargill City Council and the Bluff Community Board and Invercargill Licencing Trust, open today, Friday 15 July.

Council Deputy Electoral Officer and Manager Governance and Legal Michael Morris said the opening of nominations signalled a busy, exciting and important time for the community.

“This is when the wheels of democracy start to turn and people who are interested in local decision-making and serving their community stand up to be counted,” he said.

Completed nomination forms can be delivered to the Invercargill City Council Central Administration Building on Esk St or emailed to Michael.Morris@icc.govt.nz.

Candidates must be nominated by two people who are registered to vote in the area they are running for, for example those nominating someone for the Bluff Community Board must live in Bluff, he said.

There is a lot of crucial information about what is needed in order to be nominated, which is all available in the pre-election report, the Candiate Handbook as well as on the Council webpage and the Vote Murihiku Facebook page, he said. Nominations close August 12 at 12pm.

For more information on elections visit https://icc.govt.nz/elections/