Southland's declining population is one of the major issues for the region's election candidates.

Four of the ten Gore District councillors, eight of the 12 Southland District councillors, and four the 12 Southland Region councillors have been reelected unopposed.

But other candidates are being challenged to come up with ideas to retain and attract working age people in the deep south.

The Hits Southland host Liv McBride said the candidates have been asked for new ideas for addressing the pressures of population decline.

She said the region could suffer "if we don't do things to sexy up the region and get some fresh ideas pumping".

Invercargill's local election is the talk of the town on social media, but that may not translate into more people casting their vote.

The country's longest serving mayor, Tim Shadbolt, is seeking an seventh consecutive term as the city's mayor.

Mr Shadbolt returned to the mayoralty in 1998, after one previous term as Invercargill mayor and two previous terms as mayor Waitemata City in west Auckland.

Liv McBride said people have been talking a lot about the election but they haven't been voting.

"We are a typical small town and everybody goes at the last minute and casts their vote.

"However, at the moment we're sitting at a third of eligible voters who have actually sent their votes in."

INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Karen Arnold
- Thomas Conroy
- Timothy Shadbolt

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- District at large – 33 candidates for 12 positions

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Bluff Community Board – 5 candidates elected unopposed

GORE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Tracy Hicks
- Bevin Watt

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Gore Ward – 9 candidates for 5 positions
- Mataura Ward – 4 candidates for 1 position
- Waikaka Ward – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- District Wide Ward – 3 candidates elected unopposed

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Mataura Community Board – 5 candidates elected unopposed

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

Voters will select a mayor from these candidates:
- Gary Tong
- Steve Fagerlund

Voters will select councillors in these ward areas:
- Mararoa Waimea Ward – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Stewart Island Rakiura Ward – 2 candidates for 1 position
- Waiau Aparima Ward – 3 candidates elected unopposed
- Winton Wallacetown Ward – 4 candidates for 3 positions
- Waihopai Toetoes Ward – 2 candidates elected unopposed

Voters will select local representatives in these community board areas:
- Edendale-Wyndham Community Board, 4 candidates elected unopposed, 2 positions vacant
- Otautau Community Board – 10 candidates for 6 positions
- Riverton-Aparima Community Board – 6 candidates elected unopposed
- Stewart Island-Rakiura Community Board – 9 candidates for 6 positions
- Te Anau Community Board – 6 candidates elected unopposed
- Tuatapere Community Board – 5 candidates elected unopposed, 1 position vacant
- Wallacetown Community Board – 6 candidates elected unopposed
- Winton Community Board – 7 candidates for 6 positions

SOUTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL

Voters will select councillors in these constituencies:
- Eastern-Dome Constituency – 4 candidates for 2 positions
- Fiordland Constituency – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Hokonui Constituency – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Invercargill-Rakiura Constituency – 11 candidates for 6 positions
- Southern Constituency – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Western Constituency -- 1 candidate elected unopposed

OTHER ELECTIONS

The following elections are also being held:
- Southern District Health Board – no elections
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Tapanui – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Gore – 7 candidates for 3 positions
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Mataura – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Rural – 6 candidates for 1 position
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Edendale– 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Wyndham – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Mataura Licensing Trust, Tokanui – 1 candidate elected unopposed
- Gore and Districts Health, Gore – 3 candidates elected unopposed, 1 position vacant
- Gore and Districts Health, Gore – 1 position vacant
- Gore and Districts Health, Gore – 1 position vacant
- Bluff Community Pool Trust Board – 3 candidates for 5 positions
- Invercargill Licensing Trust – 9 candidates for 6 positions