Southland mayoral candidate Kirsty Pickett says she was "flabbergasted" to be bluntly shut down while trying to raise concerns about voting, at a council meeting this morning.

Pickett believes some of the council offices in Southland District should be open longer to enable people to hand-deliver their completed voting papers.

That would help voters after the inconsistent delivery of papers and other problems, she says. The deadline for posting them was yesterday.

Pickett, speaking in the public forum, said: "I'm here because I want to formally record my deep concern at the shambles created by delayed postal deliveries that threatens to undermine this election and the failure by this council . . ."

But she was stopped by forum chair Deputy Mayor Ebel Kremer, who said that was "not a responsibility of this council, that is the responsibility of the election office".

When Pickett attempted to continue, Kremer, who is not seeking re-election, said: "I am not going to sit here and listen to you criticise this council. I'm not going to put up with it Kirsty, I can assure you."

He said the council had done everything in its power and told her to take it up with the electoral office.

Pickett, one of six mayoral candidates, says in a media statement: "To say I was flabbergasted at that response is an understatement.

"The council is here to represent and serve the people of the Southland District. It must be able to withstand some constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement, especially when we’re talking about engagement in local democracy."

She says the electoral officer doesn't have control over the opening hours of council offices, which are the only means for residents to now vote before Saturday's noon deadline.

"Had I been allowed to continue, councillors would have heard me ask them to step up and give the people they represent a fair opportunity to cast their vote by ensuring the council offices are open to receive votes."

Pickett says of the seven offices located within the Southland District, only three are open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, and one of them closes for an hour at lunchtime. The remainder offer reduced hours that differ depending on the location.

"The other options are the council head office and the Vote Murihiku 2022 Hub, both of which are located in Invercargill, outside of the district.

"If you haven’t yet received your voting papers and need to cast a special vote, the only place you can do this is in Invercargill or on Stewart Island!"

By last night 32.55% of eligible voters in Southland had voted – slightly ahead of the same time in the previous two elections.

Southland District Council, in a press release this evening, has rejected the criticism.

SDC governance legal manager Robyn Rout said all eight offices would be open on Saturday from 9am until voting closed at midday, so that any last-minute voting papers could be lodged.

However, Council had received no complaints from members of the public that they had been unable to lodge their ordinary voting papers at a Council office.

"People in the communities that have Council offices will be well aware of their opening hours and will know when they can bring in their votes,” she said.

Southland District Council has area offices at Stewart Island/Rakiura, Riverton, Winton, Otautau, Lumsden, Te Anau and Wyndham, as well as its head office in Forth Street, Invercargill, Rout says.

The Invercargill, Winton, Riverton and Otautau offices are open from 9am-5pm each weekday, while the Te Anau library is open until 5pm on weekdays and voting papers can be lodged there.

The Lumsden office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am until 5pm, Stewart Island’s office is open Monday to Friday 8.30am until noon and on Wednesday from 2pm until 4pm, and the Wyndham office is open Tuesday and Thursday 2-5pm.

Rout said as well as being able to deliver last-minute voting forms to all SDC offices on Saturday morning there were other options, including the offices of Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council and the Vote Murihiku hub in the Invercargill Central mall.

• Disclaimer: Kirsty Pickett is a co-owner of The Southland App, but the publication has editorial independence and will treat all candidates equally.