Big questions over just how many people will be having their say in next week's local council elections.

Turn-out is down in Wellington and Christchurch, and Auckland Council has received less than two thirds of the votes it had received at the same point in the last election.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta hasn't received her voting papers, and fears others are in the same situation.

Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby told Mike Hosking even people who do have voting papers don't necessarily know what to do with them.

He says there isn't enough information about the candidates, and the same voting papers often have multiple voting systems.

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