As of yesterday, only 21.11% of the votes (1729 votes) had been received. In the Arrowtown ward by-election in 2015, voter turnout was about 46%.
Four candidates are running in the by-election: Quentin Smith, Eddie Spearing, Jude Battson and Wayne Hudson.
Voting closes at noon next Friday, July 29.
Mr Boult asked those yet to vote to ensure they were part of the democratic process.
"The unfortunate part of any by-election is they don’t get the same amount of participation as the regular ones do, but they are still vitally important."
The by-election was called after Ella Lawton resigned from the district council to run in the Otago Regional Council’s by-election for its vacant Dunstan ward seat.
If Mr Smith is elected, another by-election will need to be held for his Wanaka Community Board seat since all three Wanaka ward councillors are automatically elected to the board.
It is estimated the by-election will cost about $30,000.
