Twenty-three-year-old Ben Bell has taken a narrow lead in the race to be Gore's next mayor.

He's just 13 votes ahead of incumbent mayor Tracy Hicks, 70, based on the preliminary election result.

Bell has 2,346 votes and Hicks, who's been mayor for 18 years, has 2,333.

The preliminary results do not include special votes. There were 67 special votes issued, and they will decide who's in the hot seat for the next three years.

But Gore residents likely won't know who their new mayor is until the final result is announced on Thursday

Even then, the losing candidate could potentially ask for a recount. There are 113 blank voting papers.

The mayoralty is the only undecided seat.

Voter turnout in the Gore District was strong, with 52.65% turnout, some 4,794 votes, excluding special votes.

Gore District Council electoral officer Anthony Morton announced the preliminary result this afternoon, after a further 339 votes were counted overnight and today. 

Preliminary result

Mayoralty

BELL, Ben (Team Hokonui) 2,346

HICKS, Tracy 2,333

INFORMAL 1

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 113

Gore Ward (5 vacancies)

HIGHSTED, Bret 1,675

REID, Bronwyn Anne 1,669

MCPHAIL, Paul 1,667

DICKSON, Glenys 1,546

MCKENZIE, Robert Caveman (Team Hokonui) 1,431

GRANT, Nick 1,362

MCSTAY, Stephen 928

RETI, Janeen Team Hokonui 766

TURIPA, Reuben Rupi 743

INFORMAL 1

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 29

Council - At Large (3 vacancies)

MCPHAIL, Richard 3,417

STRINGER, Joe Team Hokonui 2,639

HOVELL, Keith Positive Change 2,212

DIXON, Steven Boko 1,824

ADAMS-GRAY, Liz 950

INFORMAL 3

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 165

Mataura Community Board (5 vacancies)

MATAHIKI, Darren 301

DIXON, Steven Boko 296

COATS, Nicky 252

TURNBULL, Laurel 252

TE AU, Colleen 198

WAIHAPE, Constance 189

COLEMAN-CLARKE, Matu-Taera 186

STORER, Melissa 169

ROWLING, Tanya 151

ADCOCK, Gina 116

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 7

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 2 (3 vacancies)

BURGESS, Bryan Bunny 2,013

ALLISON, Jimmy 1,813

MARSHALL, Craig 1,461

BYRNE, Alan 1,441

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 194

Mataura Licensing Trust - Ward 3 (1 vacancy)

MURRAY, Brendon (Moe) 321

TE AU, Colleen 163

INFORMAL 0

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 20

The voter return was 52.65%, being 4,794 votes, excluding special votes.