View source for Elections in New Zealand

{{Short description|none}}
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{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Politics of New Zealand| expanded = Elections}}
[[File:John Key voting in Epsom.jpg|thumb|upright|[[John Key]] placing his [[ballot]] in the [[ballot box]] for the [[Epsom (New Zealand electorate)|Epsom]] electorate]]
[[New Zealand]] is a [[representative democracy]] in which members of the [[unicameralism|unicameral]] [[New Zealand Parliament]] gain their [[legislative seat|seats]] through elections.<ref name="constitution">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Palmer|first1=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Palmer|title=Constitution – Representative democracy and Parliament|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/constitution/page-7|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|access-date=5 February 2017|date=20 June 2012}}</ref> [[General election]]s are usually held every three years; they may be held at an earlier date (a "[[snap election|snap]]" election) at the discretion of the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|prime minister]] (advising the governor-general), but that usually only happens in the event of a [[vote of no confidence]] or other exceptional circumstances. A [[by-election]] is held to fill an [[New Zealand electorates|electorate]] vacancy arising during a parliamentary term. [[Election day]] is always a Saturday, but [[advance voting]] is allowed in the lead-up to it. The [[2023 New Zealand general election|most recent general election]] took place on 14 October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 General Election |url=https://www.vote.nz/2023-general-election/about/2023-general-election/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>

New Zealand has a [[multi-party system]] due to [[proportional representation]]. The introduction of the [[mixed-member proportional]] (MMP) voting system in 1993 was the most significant change to [[Electoral system of New Zealand|the electoral system]] in the 20th century.<ref name="constitution" /> The [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] is responsible for the administration of parliamentary elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/about-electoral-commission|title=About the Electoral Commission|work=Electoral Commission|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> The introduction of MMP has led to mostly minority or coalition governments, but the first party to win an outright majority since the introduction of MMP was the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]], led by [[Jacinda Ardern]], in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardfern vows unity as she wins historic majority|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/nz-election-jacinda-ardern-set-to-win-over-rival-judith-collins/news-story/2c84883b2ef8462fe2428c0e85e688c5|website=The Australian|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>

[[Local government in New Zealand|Local government]] politicians, including [[mayors in New Zealand|mayors]] and councillors, are voted in during [[Local elections in New Zealand|local elections]], held every three years. Most of these elections use the [[first-past-the-post]] (FPP) voting system, however, at the last local elections in [[2022 New Zealand local elections|2022]], 15 councils used the [[single transferable vote]] (STV) system,<ref>{{cite web |title=Local elections and voting |url=https://www.lgnz.co.nz/local-government-in-nz/local-elections-and-voting/ |website=www.lgnz.co.nz |publisher=[[Local Government New Zealand]] |access-date=9 December 2023 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> which has increasingly been adopted by councils since the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/local-elections/local-elections-2007.html |title=2007 Local Elections |publisher=Elections New Zealand |access-date=11 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120150302/http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/local-elections/local-elections-2007.html |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}</ref>

== Overview of elections ==

===History===
{{See also|History of voting in New Zealand}}

The [[1853 New Zealand general election|first general]] and [[1853 New Zealand provincial elections|provincial]] elections in New Zealand took place in 1853, the year after the British Parliament passed the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]]. [[Women's suffrage in New Zealand|Women's suffrage]] was introduced in 1893, with New Zealand being the first modern country to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=Votes for Women|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/book/export/html/646|website=www.elections.org.nz|publisher=Electoral Commission New Zealand|access-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125071304/https://www.elections.org.nz/book/export/html/646|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Almost all general elections between {{NZ election link year|1853}} and {{NZ election link year|1993}} were held under the [[first-past-the-post voting]] system. The first election under the [[Mixed-member proportional representation|mixed-member proportional]] (MMP) system was held in {{NZ election link year|1996}} following the [[1993 electoral referendum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=First past the post – the road to MMP |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/fpp-to-mmp/first-past-the-post |publisher=[[New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |date=September 2009 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref>

=== Electoral roll ===
The [[electoral roll]] consists of a register of all enrolled voters, organised (primarily alphabetically by surname) within electorates. All persons who meet the requirements for voting must by law register on the electoral roll, even if they do not intend to vote. Although eligible voters must be enrolled, voting in New Zealand elections is not [[compulsory voting|compulsory]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/enrol-and-vote-in-an-election/enrol-to-vote/|title=Enrol to vote|website=New Zealand Government|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref>

To be eligible to enrol, a person must be 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and have lived in New Zealand for one or more years without leaving the country (with some exceptions).<ref>[http://www.elections.org.nz/enrolment/enrol-faqs/enrolling-detailed-faq.html#gen12 Enrolling Details FAQ]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106050523/http://elections.org.nz/enrolment/enrol-faqs/enrolling-detailed-faq.html#gen12|date=6 January 2009}}, Elections New Zealand, Enrolling – FAQ. Retrieved 5 April 2009.</ref> People can provisionally enrol to vote once they turn 17, with them being automatically enrolled on their 18th birthday.

The Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages automatically notifies a person's death to the Electoral Commission so they may be removed from the roll.<ref>{{cite web |last=McPherson |first=Ross |title=Official Information Act Request 2022/26 |url=https://elections.nz/assets/OIA-requests/2022/OIA-request-26-2022.pdf |website=elections.nz |access-date=1 December 2024 |date=4 August 2022}}</ref> An enrolment update campaign is conducted prior to every local and general election in order to keep the roll up to date, identifying any voters who have failed to update their address or cannot be found.<ref>{{cite web |title=Enrolment and resources |url=https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/candidate-hub/resources/enrolment-and-resources/ |website=elections.nz |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=1 December 2024|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

The roll records the name, address and stated occupation of all voters, although individual electors can apply for "unpublished" status on the roll in special circumstances, such as when having their details printed in the electoral roll could threaten their [[personal safety]]. The roll is "public information" meaning it can be used for legitimate purposes such as selecting people for [[jury service]] but it can be abused especially by [[marketing]] companies who use the electoral roll to send registered voters [[unsolicited advertising]] mail.  According to Elections New Zealand, "having the printed electoral rolls available for the public to view is a part of the open democratic process of New Zealand".<ref>[http://www.elections.org.nz/enrolment/viewing-printed-rolls.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014112130/http://www1.elections.org.nz/enrolment/viewing-printed-rolls.html|date=14 October 2008}} Elections New Zealand, Viewing the printed electoral rolls. Retrieved 5 April 2009.</ref> The Electoral Commission, in their report on the 2017 general election, recommended that roll sales be discontinued for anything other than electoral purposes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.elections.org.nz/events/2017-general-election/reports-statistics/electoral-commission-report-2017-general-election|title=Electoral Commission Report on the 2017 General Election|work=Electoral Commission|access-date=18 October 2018|language=en}}</ref>

=== Electorates and lists ===
{{main|New Zealand electorates}}

New Zealanders refer to electoral districts as "electorates", or more colloquially as "[[legislative seat|seats]]". Since the 2020 general election, there are 72 electorates,<ref name="electorates">{{cite web |title=What are electorates? |url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/parliament-in-election-year/what-are-electorates/ |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |language=en-NZ |date=17 April 2020}}</ref> including seven [[Māori electorates]] reserved for people of [[Māori people|Māori]] ethnicity or ancestry who choose to place themselves on a separate electoral roll.<ref>{{cite web |title=Origins of the Māori seats |url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/pb/research-papers/document/00PLLawRP03141/origins-of-the-māori-seats |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=4 November 2020 |date=31 May 2009 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> All of New Zealand is covered by a general electorate and an overlapping Māori electorate. According to the New Zealand Electoral Commission, "The Representation Commission reviews and adjusts electorate boundaries after each 5-yearly population census and the Māori Electoral Option."<ref>{{cite web |title=How Do Boundary Reviews Work? |url=https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/boundary-review-2019-2020/how-do-boundary-reviews-work/ |website=elections.nz |publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission |access-date=21 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="electorates"/>

All electorates have roughly the same number of people in them; the Representation Commission periodically reviews and alters electorate boundaries to preserve this approximate balance. The number of people per electorate depends on the population of the [[South Island]], which as the less populous of the country's two main islands has sixteen guaranteed electorates. Hence, the ideal number of people per electorate equals the population of the South Island divided by sixteen. From this, the Commission determines the number of [[North Island]], Māori and [[Party-list proportional representation|list]] seats, which may fluctuate accordingly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of electorates and electoral populations: 2018 Census |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/number-of-electorates-and-electoral-populations-2018-census |website=www.stats.govt.nz |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=5 November 2020 |date=23 September 2019}}</ref> The number of electorates increased by one compared to the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 election]] to account for the [[North Island]]'s higher population growth, creating [[Takanini (New Zealand electorate)|Takanini]]; and the boundaries of 30 general electorates and five Māori electorates were adjusted.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZ Election 2020 electorate changes: Adjusted boundaries, new names |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/nz-election-2020-electorate-changes-adjusted-boundaries-new-names.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807040253/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/nz-election-2020-electorate-changes-adjusted-boundaries-new-names.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |first=Zane |last=Small |date=4 August 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/boundary-review-2019-2020/ |title=Boundary Review 2019/20 |website=Elections.nz |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

Supplementing the geographic electorate seats, the system {{As of|2020|alt=currently}} allows for 48 at-large "list seats".<ref>{{cite web |title=MPs and Electorates – New Zealand Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/ |website=www.parliament.nz |access-date=6 March 2022 |language=en-NZ |quote=These MPs represent 65 general electorate seats and seven Māori electorates. The other 48 MPs are selected from the party lists.}}</ref> A nationwide [[party vote]] fills these seats from [[closed list]]s submitted by political parties;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Electoral Commission|title=Electoral Commission: Candidate And Party Lists Released|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2009/S00294/electoral-commission-candidate-and-party-lists-released.htm|access-date=2020-10-18|website=www.scoop.co.nz}}</ref> they serve to make a party's total share of seats in parliament reflect its share of the party vote. For example, if a party wins 20% of the party vote, but only ten electorate seats, it will win fourteen list-seats, so that it has a total of 24 seats: 20% of the 120 seats in parliament. (See {{slink|Electoral system of New Zealand|MMP}}.)

=== Timing of elections ===

==== General elections ====
[[File:GGNZ issuing writ for 2020 general election.jpg|thumb|Governor-General Dame [[Patsy Reddy]] signs the writ for the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]]]
Unlike some other countries, New Zealand has no [[fixed-term election|fixed election-date]] for general elections, but rather the [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|prime minister]] determines the timing of general elections by [[Advice (constitutional)|advising]] the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general]] when to issue the [[Writ of election|writ]] for a general election. The [[Constitution Act 1986]] requires new parliamentary elections every three years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.co.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/DLM94241.html?search=ta_act_C_ac%40ainf%40anif_an%40bn%40rn_25_a&p=5 |title="Term of Parliament," Section 17 of the Constitution Act 1986 |access-date=6 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018160909/http://www.legislation.co.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/DLM94241.html?search=ta_act_C_ac%40ainf%40anif_an%40bn%40rn_25_a&p=5 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The 1910s, 1930s and 1940s saw three elections delayed due to World War I, the [[Great Depression]] and World War II, respectively: the [[1919 New Zealand general election|1919]], [[1935 New Zealand general election|1935]] and [[1943 New Zealand general election|1943]] elections would otherwise have taken place in 1917, 1934 and 1941 (Parliaments passed Acts extending their terms). Also, governments have occasionally called early, or "[[snap election|snap]]" elections (for example, in [[1951 New Zealand general election|1951]] in the midst of [[1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute|an industrial dispute involving striking waterfront workers]]).<ref name="Edwards1">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Bryce |first1=Edwards |title=Elections and campaigns – Elections |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/elections-and-campaigns/page-1 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

The [[List of parliaments of New Zealand|term of Parliament]] and the timing of general elections is set out in the Constitution Act 1986 and the [[Electoral Act 1993]]. Under section 19 of the Constitution Act, Parliament must meet within six weeks of the return of the writ for a general election, while under section 17, the term of Parliament ends three years after the return of the writ, unless Parliament is [[dissolution of parliament|dissolved]] earlier by the governor-general.<ref name="Clerk">{{cite web |title=Parliament and the General Election |url=https://www.parliament.nz/media/2170/parliament-brief-parliament-and-the-general-election.pdf |website=parliament.nz |publisher=[[Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives|Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives]] |page=4 |date=August 2014}}</ref> Section 125 of the Electoral Act requires that whenever Parliament expires or is dissolved, the governor-general must issue a writ of election within seven days. Section 139 of the Electoral Act provides further constraints.<ref name="Clerk"/> The writ must be returned within 50 days of being issued, though the governor-general may appoint an earlier return date in the writ itself. Furthermore, election day must be between 20 and 27 days after the close of nominations. Thus, New Zealand law specifically mandates elections at least once every three years and two months, though elections are often held after three years, traditionally in November.<ref name="Clerk"/> The extra two months allow for some flexibility when returning to a fourth-quarter election after an early election, as happened in 2005 and 2008 after the 2002 snap election.

Snap elections have occurred three times in New Zealand's history: in 1951, [[1984 New Zealand general election|1984]] and [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002]]. Early elections often provoke controversy, as they potentially give governing parties an advantage over opposition candidates. Of the three elections in which the government won an increased majority, two were snap elections (1951 and 2002 – the other incumbent-boosting election took place in [[1938 New Zealand general election|1938]]). The 1984 snap election backfired on the governing party: many believe that Prime Minister [[Robert Muldoon]] called it while drunk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salient.co.nz/index.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070625173659/http://www.salient.co.nz/index.php?a=1894&c=17|url-status=dead|title=REHABILITATED: TOM SCOTT :: Salient|archive-date=25 June 2007|access-date=1 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="TVNZ_34506">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/34506 |title=Sips causing political slips |date=28 March 2001 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |access-date=29 September 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  The [[1996 New Zealand general election|1996]] election took place slightly early (on 12 October) to avoid holding a by-election after the resignation of [[Michael Laws]].

As in other [[Westminster system|Westminster-style democracies]], the prime minister's power to determine the election date can give the government some subtle advantages. For example, if the prime minister determines a section of the population will either vote against their government or not at all, they might hold the election at the most advantageous time<ref>{{cite news |title=Q&A: Fixed term parliaments |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11286879 |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=13 September 2010}}</ref> – as long as it is within three years. Party strategists take the timing of important [[rugby union]] matches into account, partly because a major match in the same weekend of the election will likely lower voting-levels, and partly because of a widespread belief that incumbent governments benefit from a surge of national pride when the [[All Blacks]] (the New Zealand national rugby team) win, and suffer when they lose.<ref>{{cite web |title=Will the All Blacks affect the upcoming NZ election? |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/will-blacks-affect-upcoming-nz-election/ |website=www.rugbypass.com |date=20 September 2017 |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Throughout the late 20th century and beginning of the 21st century, tradition associated elections with November – give or take a few weeks. After disruptions to the 36-month cycle, prime ministers moved to restore it to a November base. In 1950, the legal requirement to hold elections on a Saturday was introduced,<ref name="Key dates in electoral reform">{{cite web|title=Key dates in New Zealand electoral reform|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/key-dates-electoral-reform.html|publisher=Elections New Zealand|access-date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109015352/http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/key-dates-electoral-reform.html|archive-date=9 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and this first applied to the {{NZ election link|1951}}.  Beginning with the {{NZ election link|1957}}, a convention was formed to hold general elections on the last Saturday of November. This convention was upset by Muldoon calling a snap election in 1984. It took until the {{NZ election link|1999}} to get back towards the convention, only for [[Helen Clark]] to call an early election in {{NZ election link year|2002}}. By the {{NZ election link|2011}}, the conventional "last Saturday of November" was achieved again.<ref>{{cite news |last=James |first=Colin |title=John Key, modest constitutional innovator |url=http://www.colinjames.co.nz/john-key-modest-constitutional-innovator/ |access-date=27 May 2015 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=14 June 2011}}</ref> From the {{NZ election link|2014}}, the trend has been to hold the election in September or October;<ref>{{cite web |title=General Elections 1853–2020 |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/election-day/general-elections |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[NZHistory]] |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=12 February 2024}}</ref> the {{NZ election link|2020}}, delayed from September to October due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand|COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite news |title=New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern delays election over coronavirus fears |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-53796434 |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=BBC News |date=16 August 2020}}</ref> caused the 2023 election to also be held in October.<ref>{{cite press release |author=Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern |title=General Election to be held on 14 October 2023 |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/general-election-be-held-14-october-2023 |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=19 January 2024 |quote=Most recent elections have been held in the latter months of the year, so this year’s timing keeps with that tradition and is similar to the 2020 election date.}}</ref>

==== Local elections ====
{{Further|Local elections in New Zealand}}
Unlike general elections, elections for the city, district and regional councils of New Zealand have a fixed election date. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001,<ref name="Local Electoral Act 2001">{{cite web|title=Local Electoral Act 2001 No 35 (as at 24 January 2009), Public Act |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0035/latest/DLM93441.html?search=ts_act_\Electoral++Act_resel&p=1#DLM93441 |publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=6 June 2010}}</ref> elections must be held on the "second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001. The latest local body elections were held [[2025 New Zealand local elections|on 11 October 2025]].

=== Nomination and deposit of political parties and candidates ===
A party that has more than 500 fee-paying members may register with the Electoral Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=For starting a political party {{!}} Elections|url=https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-starting-a-political-party/|access-date=2021-07-17|website=elections.nz|language=en-NZ}}</ref> [[List of political parties in New Zealand#Registration of parties|Registered parties]] may submit a party list on payment of a $1000 deposit. This deposit is refunded if the party reaches 0.5% of the party votes. Electorate candidates may be nominated by a registered party or by two voters in that electorate. The deposit for an electorate candidate is $300 which is refunded if they reach 5%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Party registration handbook {{!}} Elections|url=https://elections.nz/guidance-and-rules/for-starting-a-political-party/party-registration-handbook-2/|access-date=2021-07-17|website=elections.nz|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
[[File:Polling booth Linwood Library 671.JPG|thumb|right|Ballot boxes at the [[Linwood, New Zealand|Linwood]] Library, [[Christchurch]], for the 2014 election. The white leftmost box is for [[special vote]]s, with the orange boxes being for ordinary votes for the (from left to right) {{NZ electorate link|Te Tai Tonga}}, {{NZ electorate link|Port Hills}}, {{NZ electorate link|Christchurch Central}} and {{NZ electorate link|Christchurch East}} electorates. A voting screen can be seen to the left.]]

Election day for both Māori and general seats has been held on a Saturday since 1951,<ref name="Edwards2">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Edwards |first1=Bryce |title=Elections and campaigns – Election day |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/elections-and-campaigns/page-2 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=30 November 2024 |language=en-NZ |date=1 July 2016}}</ref> so as to minimise the effect of work or religious commitments that could inhibit people from voting. The casting of ballots happens at various [[polling station|voting places]], generally established in schools, church halls, sports clubs, or other such public places.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 General Election voting places |url=https://vote.nz/maps/2020-general-election-voting-places/ |website=Vote NZ |publisher=Electoral Commission New Zealand |access-date=11 May 2022 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> In some elections, voting booths are also set up in hospitals and rest homes for use by patients (though this did not happen in the 2020 election because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand|COVID-19 pandemic]]).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-16|title=Voting during your hospital stay|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/features/sponsored-content/voting-during-your-hospital-stay|access-date=2021-07-17|website=[[Otago Daily Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election 2020 – voting from hospital {{!}} CCDHB|url=https://www.ccdhb.org.nz/news-publications/news-and-media-releases/2020-10-16-election-2020-voting-from-hospital/|access-date=2021-07-17|website=www.ccdhb.org.nz}}</ref> Voters have the flexibility of voting any voting place in the country, regardless of the electorate they live in.<ref name="what to do">{{cite web |title=What to do {{!}} Vote NZ |url=https://vote.nz/voting/how-to-vote/what-to-do/ |access-date=29 April 2021 |website=vote.nz}}</ref> Some voting places may have electoral rolls of multiple electorates to assist voters, but if the voting place does not have the correct electoral roll then a voter will have to cast a [[special vote]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-27|title=Election 2020: When, where and how you can cast your vote in the election|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122255077/election-2020-when-where-and-how-you-can-cast-your-vote-in-the-election|access-date=2021-07-17|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Advance voting]] is available in the two weeks before election day. A dominating feature of the 2017 election was the increased use of advance voting; 47% of the votes were taken in advance and grew from 24% in the 2014 election.<ref name=":0" /> In previous elections, voters were required to provide reasons to vote in advance; from 2011 and beyond, voters could use this service for any reason. The [[2018 Northcote by-election]] was the first parliamentary election where more people voted in advance than on election day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/360091/early-voting-in-northcote-reaches-new-high|title=Early voting in Northcote reaches new high|date=2018-06-21|work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref> In the 2020 election, 68% of votes were cast in advance<ref name="Edwards2"/> – an increase of about 60% compared to the previous general election, likely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on people's ability to vote in person.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-17|title=Election 2020: Advance votes total just under 2 million|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/428576/election-2020-advance-votes-total-just-under-2-million|access-date=2021-07-17|website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}. ''Note this article reflected provisional results''.</ref>

If voters cannot physically get to a voting place, they may authorise another person to collect their ballot for them. Overseas voters may vote by post, fax, internet, or in person at [[List of diplomatic missions of New Zealand|New Zealand embassies or high commission]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vote from overseas {{!}} Vote NZ |url=https://vote.nz/voting/how-to-vote/vote-from-overseas/ |website=vote.nz |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> Disabled voters can choose to vote via a telephone dictation service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dictation voting |url=https://help.vote.nz/hc/en-nz/articles/360001670535-Dictation-voting |publisher=Electoral Commission |website=vote.nz |access-date=30 November 2024 |language=en-NZ |date=3 October 2023}}</ref>

[[File:EasyVote sample.jpg|thumb|right|Sample of an EasyVote card]]
Enrolled voters are sent an EasyVote pack by post after nominations close. The pack contains an EasyVote card, which has the voter's name, address and location on the electoral roll (electorate, page number and line number), which the voter gives to the issuing officer to assist in finding the voter on the printed electoral roll. The EasyVote Card is optional, and voters can simply state their name and address to the issuing officer.<ref name="what to do" /><ref>{{cite web |title=EasyVote cards and packs delivered to voters {{!}} Elections |url=https://elections.nz/media-and-news/2011/easyvote-cards-and-packs-delivered-to-voters/ |website=Elections.nz |access-date=29 April 2021 |date=17 November 2011}}</ref> The EasyVote pack also contains a list of candidates in the voter's electorate, a copy of the party lists, a list of voting places for the voter's electorate and their opening hours, and a brochure on how to vote and the MMP voting system.

After their name is marked off, the voter is issued a voting paper. The voter then goes behind a cardboard screen, where they mark their paper using a supplied orange ink pen. The voter then folds their paper and places in their electorate's sealed [[ballot box]]. Voters who enrol after the rolls have been printed, voting outside their electorate, or on the unpublished roll casts a special vote which is separated for later counting.<ref name="what to do"/>

According to a 2008 survey commissioned by the Electoral Commission, 71% of voters voted in less than 5 minutes and 92% in less than 10 minutes. 98% of voters are satisfied with the waiting time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/study/researchers/satisfaction/final-results-voter-and-non-voter-satisfaction-survey-2008.html|title=Voter and non-voter satisfaction survey 2008|publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208183051/http://www.elections.org.nz/study/researchers/satisfaction/final-results-voter-and-non-voter-satisfaction-survey-2008.html|archive-date=8 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2017}}</ref>

New Zealand has a strictly enforced [[election silence]]. Campaigning is prohibited on election day<ref name="election day">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/2014-parties-candidates-and-third-parties/election-day-rules-candidat-0|title=Election Day Rules for Candidates, Parties and Third Parties|date=17 September 2014|publisher=New Zealand Electoral Commission|access-date=5 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227073835/http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2014-general-election/2014-parties-candidates-and-third-parties/election-day-rules-candidat-0|archive-date=27 December 2017}}</ref> and all election advertisements must be removed or covered by midnight on the night before the election. Opinion polling is also illegal on election day.<ref name="election day" />

Local elections are held by postal vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=What are local elections? {{!}} Elections |url=https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/about-elections/what-are-local-elections/ |website=Elections.nz |access-date=29 April 2021 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> [[Referendums in New Zealand|Referendums]] held in conjunction with elections are held at voting places; those between elections may be done by post or at voting places at the Government's discretion.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is a referendum? {{!}} Elections|url=https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/about-elections/what-is-a-referendum/|access-date=29 April 2021|website=Elections.nz|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

==== Voting in the MMP system ====
Each voter gets a [[party vote]], where they choose a political party, and an electorate vote, where they vote for a candidate in their electorate. The party vote determines the proportion of seats assigned to each party in Parliament, as long the party meets the [[electoral threshold]]. Each elected candidate gets a seat, and the remaining seats are filled by the party from its party list.<ref name="Electoral Commission"/>

For example: a party wins 30% of the party vote. Therefore, it will get 30% of the 120 seats in Parliament (roughly 36 seats). The party won 20 electorates through the electorate vote. Therefore, 20 of the 36 seats will be taken by the MPs that won their electorate, and 16 seats will be left over for the party to fill from their list of politicians.<ref name="Electoral Commission">{{Cite news|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system|title=MMP Voting System|publisher=Electoral Commission New Zealand|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref>

=== Vote-counting and announcement ===
Voting places close at 7:00&nbsp;pm on election day and each place counts the votes cast there. The process of counting the votes by hand begins with advance and early votes from 9:00&nbsp;am.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electoral Act 1993, 174C – Preliminary count of early votes|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0087/latest/DLM309862.html|publisher=Government of New Zealand Parliamentary Council Office|access-date=15 September 2014}}</ref> From 7:00&nbsp;pm, results (at this stage, provisional ones) go to a central office in Wellington, where they are recorded in a spreadsheet and entered into the national election results system. Election results are published on ElectionResults.govt.nz as they arrive, and simultaneously shared with the media, with the goal of having 50% of results available by 10&nbsp;p.m. and 95% by 11:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="post election">{{cite web |title=What happens after an election? |url=https://vote.nz/voting/how-to-vote/what-happens-after-the-election/ |website=vote.nz |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=30 November 2024 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name="votes counted" />

All voting papers, counterfoils and electoral rolls are returned to the respective electorate's [[returning officer]] for a mandatory recount. A master roll is compiled from the booth rolls to ensure no voter has voted more than once.<ref name="votes counted">{{cite web |title=How are general election votes counted? |url=https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/about-elections/how-are-general-election-votes-counted/ |website=elections.nz |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=30 November 2024 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> At this stage, [[special vote]]s, which can be returned up to 10 days after election day, are counted in the electorate they were cast for and included in the official count.<ref name="votes counted"/><ref name="Nightingale">{{cite news |last1=Nightingale |first1=Melissa |title=Final results? Recounts? Overhangs? What you need to know about the election from here |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/when-will-we-know-the-final-election-2023-results-what-if-there-is-a-recount-what-does-overhang-mean/QRUJP2PL3RF3BNWYYYEEXDQPO4/ |access-date=15 October 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 30 November 2024 |location=Wellington |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The final count, including special votes, can take up to three weeks to be completed and announced.<ref name="Nightingale"/> It becomes official when confirmed by the [[Chief Electoral Office (New Zealand)|Chief Electoral Officer]].<ref name="post election"/>

The final results sometimes differ from the preliminary results meaningfully; special votes tend to favour parties on the [[left-wing politics|left]], leaving parties on the [[right-wing politics|right]] with one or two seats fewer than in the preliminary results.<ref>{{cite web |title=Special votes mean National and ACT will likely lose their majority |first=Adrian |last=Beaumont |date=31 October 2023 |url= https://theconversation.com/special-votes-mean-national-and-act-will-likely-lose-their-majority-215994 |work=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> In [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999]] the provisional result indicated that neither the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Greens]] nor [[New Zealand First]] would qualify for Parliament, but both parties qualified on the strength of special votes, and the major parties ended up with fewer list seats than expected.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vowles |first1=Jack |title=Proportional Representation on Trial: The 1999 New Zealand General Election and the Fate of MMP |date=1 October 2013 |publisher=Auckland University Press |isbn=978-1-86940-715-5  |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

Candidates and parties have three working days after the release of the official results to apply for a [[Election recount|judicial recount]], either of individual electorates or of all electorates (a nationwide recount). A judicial recount takes place under the auspices of a [[District Court of New Zealand|District Court]] judge; a nationwide recount must take place under the auspices of the Chief District Court Judge.<ref>Sections 190 and 191, Electoral Act 1993</ref> At the 2023 election, recounts were requested in the [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]] and [[Tāmaki Makaurau (New Zealand electorate)|Tāmaki Makaurau]] electorates, after the top two candidates in each were separated by fewer than 50 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electorate recounts complete |url=https://elections.nz/media-and-news/2023/electorate-recounts-complete/ |website=elections.nz |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=30 November 2024 |language=en-NZ |date=15 November 2023}}</ref>

== Voter turnout ==
[[File:New Zealand voter turnout.svg|thumb|upright=2.25|Voter turnout in New Zealand, 1879 to 2023]]

[[Voter turnout]] has generally declined in New Zealand general elections since the mid-20th century. Concerns about declining democratic engagement and participation have been raised by the Electoral Commission, and by commentators such as [[Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|Sir Geoffrey Palmer]] and Andrew Butler, leading some to support the introduction of compulsory voting, [[Electoral system of Australia#Compulsory voting|as exists in Australia]]. A system of compulsory voting looks unlikely to manifest in the near future, with former Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]] arguing that it is an ineffective way to foster citizen engagement.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McCulloch|first1=Craig|title=Former PMs support compulsory voting in NZ|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/328358/former-pms-support-compulsory-voting-in-nz|website=[[Radio NZ]] |date=7 April 2017 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>

In its report after the 2014 election, the Electoral Commission stated: <blockquote>Turnout has been in decline in most developed democracies over the last 30 years, but New Zealand's decline has been particularly steep and persistent. At the 2011 election, turnout as a percentage of those eligible to enrol dropped to 69.57 per cent, the lowest recorded at a New Zealand Parliamentary election since the adoption of universal suffrage in 1893. The 2014 result, 72.14 per cent, is the second lowest. This small increase, while welcome, is no cause for comfort. New Zealand has a serious problem with declining voter participation. </blockquote>Of particular concern has been the youth vote (referring to the group of voters aged 18–29), which has had significantly lower turnout than other age brackets. A graph published on the Electoral Commission's website demonstrates the lower turnout in younger age groups.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voter Turnout Statistics |url=http://www.elections.org.nz/events/2017-general-election/2017-general-election-results/voter-turnout-statistics |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=12 November 2020 |date=2017}}</ref> Those from poorer and less educated demographics also fail to vote at disproportionately high rates.<ref>{{cite web|title=Non-voters in 2008 and 2011 general elections|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/Well-being/civic-human-rights/non-voters-2008-2011-gen-elections.aspx|website=archivestats.org.nz|access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>

==Orange Guy==
{{Main|Orange Guy}}
[[File:OrangeGuy point.jpg|thumb|right|Orange Guy mascot]]
"Orange Guy" is the mascot used in electoral related advertising by the Electoral Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.saatchiasiapacific.com/2011/06/new-zealand%E2%80%99s-famous-%E2%80%98orange-guy%E2%80%99-gets-a-makeover/|title = New Zealand's Famous 'Orange Guy' Gets a Makeover|date = 23 June 2011|access-date = 5 November 2015|website = Saatchi & Saatchi Asia Pacific|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075405/http://www.saatchiasiapacific.com/2011/06/new-zealand%E2%80%99s-famous-%E2%80%98orange-guy%E2%80%99-gets-a-makeover/|archive-date = 4 March 2016|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-22 |title='Orange Guy' the centre of Saatchi & Saatch's 2011 NZ general election & referendum campaign |url=https://campaignbrief.co.nz/2011/06/22/saatchi-saatchi-nz-create-subt/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Campaign Brief NZ |language=en-US}}</ref> He is an amorphous orange blob who usually takes on a human form, but can transform into any object as the situation warrants. His face is a [[Emoticon|smiley]], and his chest sports the logo of the Electoral Commission. Since 2017 he has been voiced by stand-up comedian [[David Correos]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=How much for that doggy? Electoral Commission reveals the price of Pup and their 2020 brand makeover|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/much-doggy-electoral-commission-reveals-price-pup-and-their-2020-brand-makeover|access-date=2020-09-16}}</ref> In the 2020 general election campaign, he was joined by a dog, Pup, who is also orange and resembles a cross between a [[Jack Russell Terrier]] and a [[Dachshund]].<ref name=":1" /> The Orange Guy icon is trademarked to the Electoral Commission.

==Leaders' debates==

[[Leaders' debate]]s are televised during pre-election periods in New Zealand. Traditionally these were held between the leaders of the two major parties, but since 1996, all leaders of parties with parliamentary representation are invited to a televised debate, still the two main party leaders may debate one-on-one in a separate debate. These events can prove decisive. For instance, at the 2002 election the [[United Future]] party boosted its rating in opinion polls following the successful performance of its party leader during a televised debate.<ref>{{cite web |title=2002 Leaders Debate – Analysis {{!}} Television {{!}} NZ On Screen |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/2002-leaders-debate-analysis |website=www.nzonscreen.com |publisher=[[NZ On Screen]] |access-date=11 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|New Zealand}}
* [[Next New Zealand general election]]
* [[Electoral reform in New Zealand]]
* [[Political funding in New Zealand]]
* [[Politics of New Zealand]]
* [[Voting rights of prisoners in New Zealand]]

'''Lists of elections'''
* [[List of New Zealand by-elections]]
* [[List of parliaments of New Zealand]], including election result statistics
* [[Local elections in New Zealand]]
* [[Referendums in New Zealand]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book
| publisher = GP Books
| isbn = 9780477013840
| last = McRobie
| first = Alan
| title = New Zealand electoral atlas
| location = Wellington
| year = 1989
}}
*{{Cite book
| publisher = Dept. of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Waikato
| isbn = 9780473097714
| last = Gibbons
| first = Matthew
| title = An annotated bibliography of New Zealand election programmes since 1905
| location = Hamilton, N.Z.
| year = 2003
| url = http://www.waikato.ac.nz/wfass/subjects/politics/resources/bib-nz-man.pdf
}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz Official election results website]
*[https://www.nzes.net/ New Zealand Election Study] – analysis of elections by the [[University of Auckland]]
*[http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/n/newzealand/ Adam Carr's Election Archive]

{{New Zealand elections}}
{{Parliament of NZ}}
{{New Zealand topics}}
{{Oceania topic|Elections in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elections In New Zealand}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Elections in New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Constitution of New Zealand]]