There's increasing suggestions turnout in local body elections would improve with a move to in-person voting.

Local Government New Zealand wants postal voting scrapped in local elections - and replaced with polling places and ballot boxes.

Nelson mayor Nick Smith is behind the calls and says less and less people have access to mail boxes than ever - resulting in less people having their voices heard.

"That is negatively impacting on people being part of our local elections - and the real problem is for mayors or councils to be able to speak to their communities when you've got well less than half the people voting."

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