Not enough candidates were nominated for the board, which means Brent Cowles can put his nomination in again when a by-election needs to be held early next year.
Otherwise, he would have had to wait another three years until local body elections again in 2016.
Waitaki District Council electoral officer David Blair said there had been a problem with one nomination that was received late on Friday morning, and it had not been possible to resolve it before the midday deadline for three-yearly elections.
Only three nominations were received for the five-seat community board, and Mr Blair said the board would still not have been full even if the nomination had been valid.
''Fortunately for that candidate they won't have to wait three years for another go, because we will have to have a by-election, following the [October] election. That's the trouble with leaving it until the last minute.''
It was expected that a by-election, which would also be to find a candidate for the Ahuriri Ward seat on the Waitaki District Council, would be held in either January or February.
Otematata Holiday Park and Lodge lessee, Mr Cowles said he had filled in the electoral change of roll online, but did not realise he had to sign a confirmation letter that had been sent through the post.
He admitted he had been lucky that a by-election would be needed, and confirmed he would re-lodge his application when the by-election was announced.
• Waitaki voters have the chance to ''speed date'' candidates in elections in the district at an event organised by Waitaki mayoral candidate Fliss Butcher on September 1.
Mrs Butcher was planning a meeting for herself at the Ardgowan School, but then decided to ask other candidates, including those standing against her for the mayoralty.
Candidates will each meet people, who will be able to stop to talk one at a time to candidates they want to know more about.
The meeting, from 1pm to 4pm, will be open to all candidates standing for the Waitaki District Council, Otago Regional Council, Southern District Health Board, Oamaru Licensing Trust and community boards.
