There has been a significant upswing in votes lodged for the local government elections, after The SE Voice revealed last week that less than one in five local voters had lodged their postal votes.

A week ago only 19.08% of ballots had been returned in the Grant District, while Mount Gambier City had recorded an even lower return rate of 15.69%.

Wattle Range was marginally higher, with a vote return of 26.90%.

This is despite ratepayers in the Mount Gambier City and Grant District areas taking part in a plebiscite asking whether they support an amalgamation of the two councils.

However, in the last week voting return figures have more than doubled in the Grant District Council, with 39.44% of votes returned.

Ratepayers in the Port MacDonnell ward are leading the way with a 55.48% return rate, with 38.5% in the Tarpeena ward and 37.42% in Central.

Mount Gambier City voting has not increased as dramatically, with 28.10% of votes returned.

Wattle Range has seen a 10% increase, with 36.91% of votes now returned.

Kintore ward has a return rate of 45.05%, followed by Riddoch with 37.08%, Corcoran 35.11% and Sorby Adams 33.60%.

Voting closes at 5pm on Thursday with counting to take place on Saturday.